Season 2021: Part 4-Off the Nest

September Update
Scroll down for for more detailed information with the most recent at the bottom. 

The three chicks left the nest July 28, August 16 and August 24. They are presumed to have migrated.

Rosie was last seen on the nest the morning of September 10. She brought a fish to the nest and held it all night. Richie joined her, with a fish of his own. Then in the morning, Rosie finished her fish and flew off. She is presumed to have migrated that morning. Richie continued to come to the railing daily often sitting facing the hills as though he was waiting or watching for her. Now he too, has left the nest. Please let the chat group know if you see him at San Pablo Reservoir, Meeker Slough or elsewhere.

Richie visited the nest briefly on September 29 to chase off persistent crows. This would indicate that he is nearby and keeping a watch on the nest. He may have been sighted on Marker 12 as well. For video, scroll down or visit sfbayospreys youtube page.

 July
All three chicks have successfully fledged and are doing well. This is only the second year to have three chicks fledged. Now the focus is off the nest, as they learn to fly and fish. They can be seen in the area. Re Tony\, our expert scientist, ospreys can be seen following their parents to fish and being fed off the nest. It should be noted that there are other osprey nests in the area now, so more ospreys are flying around. This includes the Richmond Yacht Club nest and nests in Pt. Molate and off the Richmond-San Rafael bridge. The population is increasing!

food fight from VA video July 1

Lupine (VZ) waiting for a fish July 6 cap by midi

During the day, the nest is often empty now. But the fledglings reappear when they are hungry or sleepy. Often the entire family can still be seen on the nest at night. Richie continues to bring fish to the nest and Rosie too. The fledglings sometimes fight over the fish but increasingly are waiting patiently for their turn, perhaps because they have eaten off the nest and are not hungry. At least one has been seen on the nest wet, as though he may have tried fishing on his own. 
Poppy is quite proficient with perching and flying. Lupine is still a bit wobbly but is catching up quickly. 

food grab July 1 cap by lurker

Incoming smelt July 9 cap by craigor

Afternoon siesta on the nest July 5 cap by midi

Learning to land. and perch July 6 cap by midi

Learning to perch July 6 cap by midi

Entire family on the nest at night July 4 cap by midi

The empty nest July 6

Gender Change!  
The big news of the month was that new data from the DNA taken when the chicks were banded indicated that there were not three males but rather one male and two females. WP (Poppy), the eldest and (VZ) Lupine, the youngest are now considered female. (WR) Sage is still male. This, of course, was of no interest to the birds. They presumably don't worry about gender until it is time for them to mate. 

July 20  The fledglings continue to use the nest as their home. They fly off, often in the morning, then return sometime during the day. Often now, they are wet, suggesting that they have been trying to fish. Midi saw ospreys one day on the sand spit right across from  the nest and assumes it was Richie and Rosie with the young ones. It appears that if they are unsuccessful, which must happen often, they return to the nest to call loudly to be fed. Their parents are glad to do so. Either Rosie or Richie will appear with a fish. Sometimes, there are three fish in a row, so that there won't be a fight. There has been mantling over the fish and grabbing fish from a sibling. All three engage in this. They have done a bit of short flying with a fish. When landing, they seem to have trouble releasing the fish, as the adults do. At night, the family often gathers. Sometimes, one fledgling is missing, other times the parents are not there. But we presume they are nearby. 

Whoops, I didn't plan to land there. July 11 cap by midi

July 16 2 fledglings, Rosie on rail cap by midi

July 12 (VZ) Lupine on nest alone at night. Rosie was on the rail off camera. cap by midi

July 15 All three fledglings together at night cap by midi

During the day, they may rest on the nest, sit quietly watching or call loudly for fish, then squabble over it and eat it when it comes. (VZ) Lupine, the youngest, appears to spend the most time on the nest. 

July 9 VZ resting on the nest, with leg stretched out. cap by midi

July 13 VZ (Lupine) and (WR) Sage on the nest cap by midi

July 14 All three on the nest, one eating a fish, the other two waiting their turn. cap by midi

July 17 A stranger osprey visits the nest and is not turned away. See sfbayospreys Youtube channel for the video.

Incoming fish July 16 gif by Robin

Lupine Beauty July 18 cap by C

For more enjoyment, visit the sfbayospreys Youtube page where there are many videos of the ospreys. Here is one below of a fish falling over the edge of the nest. 

August 31  The fledglings have spent less and less time on the nest in August. The male Sage was the first to disappear from the nest, presumably able to fish for himself and maybe flying around with other fledglings from other nests. We have no way of knowing what they are actually doing once they leave the nest, unless one is sighted. One banded osprey was sighted by Pt. Isabel one day. Poppy left the nest more and Lupine was on the nest regularly asking for fish. Then Poppy returned, they argued and Poppy began to dominate the nest. .Lupine then left the nest. Poppy stayed quite a while then she too, left. 

Fish incoming July 26 cap by midi

Chick id

All three fledglings on the nest July 28. cap by lurker.

All three waiting for fish. July 26 cap by midi

Rosie and Richie move off the nest and spend the nights on the ROV wires. July 25 cap by midi

Empty nest at night July 25 cap by midi

Viewers often wonder why Richie and Rosie move off the nest to roost on wires and rails. While the nest would be most comfortable for us flat-footed humans, ospreys have talons that grip and lock even while they are sleeping. Thus the rail and cables are more suited to their talons. And the nest is for chicks and raising a family. It appears to serve no purpose to the ospreys other than that. There is no need for a nest for an adult osprey who is not mating and raising chicks. 

Rosie on the crane cable watching from afar. August 10. cap by C.

Poppy on the nest August 23 cap by lurker

Sleepy Lupine alone on the nest cap by midi

Lupine on the nest August 12 cap by lurker

Poppy's embarrassing fish moment on August 20. See video on sfbayospreys youtube site for the full story.

Sibling battle for the nest. August 31 cap by Dianne A

Poppy with fish on cable August 18 cap by lurker

Poppy wants a fish August 24 gif by J

Lupine on the nest August 16 cap by lurker

Richie with fish on the rail. August 30. gif by J.

As the nest is empty much of the time, other birds take advantage of this to rest, to claim the nest, or to pick up tidbits of fish jerky. 

Gull on nest July 25 cap by PP

Crows on the nest July 25 cap by PP

Intruder August 2 still shot from video by VA. For the video, see GGAS Youtube site.

July 28, 2021, is the last day all three fledglings were seen on the nest, and the last time Sage was seen at the nest. He was also seen flying around Pt Isabel the day before (July 27), as recorded on ebird.org.

Last day that Lupine was seen on the nest. August 16.

We humans can never know which day will be the last time we see a chick on the nest. We can only take caps then go back later to find the last photo we have. Here are last photos for the three this year. If you have a later cap, please let us know. 

Poppy was the last to leave. Here is her wave good-bye on August 24.

September   The fledglings have definitely left the nest and have not been seen. They may be still flying around the area or staging somewhere in the general area or may have already started their migration. They do not fly in a straight path the first year (see the book Belle's Journey about an osprey on the East Coast for a good overview of this process) and take longer to reach their winter home as a result. Rosie leaves later as she is an experienced flier and knows where she is going. She generally leaves mid-September. 
Richie and Rosie can be seen near or on the nest almost every day right now, renewing their bond. They sit together, Richie often looks at Rosie, and he has engaged in mating behavior such as mantling before her.  nest floomphing, or nestorating. Rosie is more content just to sit. Does she contemplate her upcoming journey or does she just take off one day when the urge hits? We humans know so little about this and can only observe the birds to learn more. 

Richie and Rosie on the wire August 28 cap by lurker

Rosie and Richie on the nest August 30 cap by midi

Rosie and Richie on the crane August 28 cap by Dianne A

Richie and Rosie on the rail August 31 cap by lurker

Richie nest cupping. August 29. gif by J

Rosie and Richie spent nights together, either on the ROV wires or on the nest railing. The evening of September 9, Rosie brought a fish to the nest and kept it all night. Richie brought one as well. He kept looking at Rosie. The next day she flew off and we haven't seen her since. We assume she migrated. 

Rosie and Richie on the railing. Discussing their plans? Sept. 1. cap by ES.

Richie and Rosie together. Sept. 3. cap by J

Richie on the crane. Aug. 29. cap by midi

Rosie and Richie on nest railing. Sept. 5 cap by midi

Overnight fish for both September 10 cap by lurker

Meme by Crow

Now Richie is alone in Richmond. He has been spending the nights and parts of each day on the railing of the nest. He often looks towards the hills, as though he is watching for Rosie. He appears to be staying close to the nest more than in the past. 

Richie on the nest alone. night of September 10 with Roof Tiki looking on. cap by midi

Richie on the railing alone. September 13. But the tugboat keeps him company. cap by midi.

After watching for over a week, Richie also left the nest. He has not been seen since September 17. In the past, he has been sighted at Meeker Slough and around the ship channel in the Winter months. He will start appearing on the nest more as Rosie's return become imminent, around late February. Some years he has visited the nest occasionally starting in December. 
If you see Richie around the area, or any other osprey (a few males appear to stay around), please let the chat know. Go to sfbayospreys.org and log onto chat. There is the possibility that he might visit the San Pablo Reservoir as well. If you see one of the banded offspring, we would also love to know. We know that two have returned to the area but they have only been seen once. 

Richie on the rail September 17, last day he was seen on the nest. cap by PP

Farewell to our Rosie and the three chicks she and Richie raised. May you have a safe journey and a good time down South. And Richie, we hope to see you around the area. 
For osprey lovers who miss the ospreys, there are many videos taken by our faithful VA on sfbayospreys youtube channel. Or log onto chat to talk about ospreys (and much else!) with other osprey lovers. sfbayospreys.org. It is free and open. You need only choose a chat name No other log in or information required. 

Richie alone on the rail. September 17 cap by PP

Richie on nest September 29 cap by lurker