Rosie has Arrived!
March 1, 2023
March 1, 2023
Rosie landing on the nest upon arrival cap by watcher
After days of cold and rain, Rosie flew in at 4:09 pm on March 1, 2023, a cold but sunny day. She immediately chased off an ospsrey intruder then the raven that was hassling her, reclaiming her nest.
 Raven on nest. 4:46pm. on March 1. cap by midi |  Rosie arguing with the raven 4:43 pm. cap by midi |
Rosie making herself at home on the rail. March 1, 2023. 4:41 pm. Look at those big feet! cap by watcher
Sunset on the day of Rosie's return 6:26 pm. cap by midi
Rosie and Richie quickly reunited to spend the night together on the ROV wires. All is right in Whirley Crane land.
Richie and Rosie on the ROV wires. 6:40 pm. March 1, 2023. cap by midi
March 2: Rosie and Richie seem to have connected and spent the night together. Both were sighted today on the light poles by chatters on site. Rosie was eating a fish.
 Rosie on light pole. PHoto by Toaster 28. March 2, 2023 |  Osprey on light pole. Photo by Toaster 28. March 2, 2023. |
March 3: Rosie and Richie were spotted on the light poles. Rosie was eating a fish at one point. An unknown female came to the nest briefly and was chased off by the raven. The ravens are apparently building a nest on the boom of the crane and are asserting control over the nest.
Ospreys are returning elsewhere as well. A pair was sighted at the Richmond Yacht Club nest and at the Wharf Street nesst.
Ospreys are returning elsewhere as well. A pair was sighted at the Richmond Yacht Club nest and at the Wharf Street nesst.
 Osprey on the light pole 3-3-23. 11:31 am. cap by craigor  Quick visit to the nest by an unknown female osprey 3-3-23. 11:46 am. cap by midi |  Two ospreys on the same light pole 3-3- 23. 5:30 pm. cap by Dk  Chased off by the raven. 11:49 am. cap by midi |
March 4: Rosie and Richie are spending quite a bit of time together, getting to know each other again. they have been observed eating fish but we have not seen Richie bring a fish to Rosie. Rosie and Richie both spent time on the nest. Then they shooed off the ravens and the crows. The ravens who like to think they own the nest and indeed, appear to be building a nest on the upper end of the crane.
 Rosie on the rail 3 4 23 9:32 am. cap by J |  Richie and Rosie on the ROV wires 3 4 23. 8pm. cap by Robin |
March 6- The ravens are actively building a nest high on the boom, in a protected area. Rosie has been chasing them off but rather half-heartedly. She and Richie are still in the getting reacquainted mode and not very territorial yet. The ravens brazenly land on the nest as though they own it.
 Raven's nest. March 6, 2023. cap by watcher. |  Raven on the nest. March 6, 2023. 12:46 pm. |
Peregrine falcon on the crane. March 6 2023, 10 am. Cap by Dianne A.
To add to the confusion, a peregrine falcon landed on the crane and tussled with the ravens. The falcon left.
One high, one low. Night of March 6, at 10:10 pm. cap by midi.
March 7: Much the same today. Richie and Rosie spotted on the light poles, at one point eating fish. Rose brought in a reddish fish, possibly a goldfish?
Rosie bringing in a red fish. Still cap by PP from VA video. March 7, 10:23 am.
March 8: The weather was better today and Richie and Rosie were active, sitting on the light poles, flying and even coming briefly to the nest.
 Two on the light pole March 8, 2023, 12:38 pm, cap by Dinnae ken.  Rosie on the rail March 8, 2023. 11:10 am. cap by watcher |  Rosie on the rail March 8, 2022 11 am, cap by Benjamin  Stick brought to the nest March 8, 2023. 10:16 am. cap by Dinnae ken  Followed by Jseter's loud complaint cap by Dinnae ken. |
And Jester stealing the stick for his own nest on the crane's boom. cap by watcher.
March 8-10. While the ravens continue to build their nest on the Whirley Crane boom, and the gulls visit the nest proper, the osprey action is all on the light poles. On March 10, Richie and Rosie were sighted both apart and together on the poles ,watching and eating. And there was one attempted CK by Richie. The action is best viewed from the ground, in person. So come down to the nest if you get a chance. If you are too far away, there are chatters who go down there and post photos and videos on the chat
 Gull on nest preening. Still picture from video by VA , March 9, 2023. |  Two gulls on the nest, still picture take from video by VA.March 9, 2023 |
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| Rosie? eating a fish on the light pole. March 11, 2023 video by Toaster28 March 10-12 The action continues to be on the light poles while the crows build a nest on the crane.  Both on the same pole. March 11, 2023. photo by Toaster28  Corvids and peregrine falcon. March 11, 2023. At night, Richie and Rosie usually sleep on the ROV wires, sometimes close together, other times farther apart. In inclement weather they seek refuge elsewhere.  Rosie flying with a striped bass, being harassed by a crow. March 15, 2023. Photo by Dianne A. With the cams down due to high winds blowing down the electric poles on Canal Blvd. we had to rely on our BOTG (boots on the ground) reporters to tell us what was going on. And they delivered! Rosie and Richie were seen on separate light poles then on the same one briefly until both flew off to go fishing. They seemed to be fishing over by the sandbar. Rosie returned with a large striped bass and spent a long time eating it.  Osprey on the light pole 3 15 23 photo by Dianne A  Osprey (Rosie?) with fish. March 15, 2023. photo by Dianne A  Rosie with her bloody striper. March 15, 2023. Photo by chaya.  Probably Richie on a different light pole. Marcy 15, 2023, photo by chaya.  Rosie finally settled on a lightpole by the Richmond Yacht Club to eat her fish in peace. March 15, 2023. photo by Dianne A There has been some discussion about proper terminology. The cam is for all and one must find a balance between scientific terms and terms that are understood by the general public. In biology, the term CK refers to the two birds' cloacae actually making contact and presumably transferring semen. Of course, human observers can never really be sure when this happens, just note the signs, such as the female's receptive raised tail. According to Tony\ Brake, the correct term for any attempted but not necessarily successful CK is copulation. This can be confusing as it it not necessarily how the layperson understands it. At the moment, the chat group as a whole has adopted ACK, attempted CK, though some prefer to follow the scientific terminology. For more information, see https://ospreytaleteller.com/2014/04/07/the-cloacal-kiss/  Attempted CK on the nest March 17, 2023. cap by Toaster 28.  Rosie on the light pole 3 17 23. photo by midi  Richie on the other light pole 3 17 23 photo by midi March 20: The cams are still down so we can't see everything that Rosie and Richie are doing, but our local chatters faithfully visit the nest and report back. It appears that the ravens have abandoned the nest they built on the boom of the crane and have relocated back to their light pole. Meanwhile, Rosie and Richie seem to have reclaimed the crane and are busy preparing the nest. They have been seen bringing sticks to the sheave and then to the nest.  Rosie getting a stick from the sheave March 19 2023. photo by Toaster28 There is a new game afoot among the WWOC/chatters. Whenever a fish is seen caught by Richie or Rosie ,either the chatter who spies it or PP makes up a little song. This was started by PP, who created an annex to the Fish Matrix for fish that don't make it to the nest. Each fish noted gets a little song. Fish brought to the nest will continue to be logged by our Fish Matrix Master craigor. Toaster 28's fish song: Fountains fountains everywhere! Ponds of water I declare! ] Fishy fishy wishy wish, Where did Rosie catch her fish? Goldfish color is the best I will bring you to the Nest. Rosie’s goldfish can’t be beat We will now have lots to eat Lots of goldfish for us now So let Rosie take a bow Fish for me, fish for you I will share my source with you. Fountains fountains everywhere Ponds of water I declare! Fishy fishy wishy wish This is where I catch goldfish! Toaster28 There has been some discussion about proper terminology. The cam is for all and one must find a balance between scientific terms and terms that are understood by the general public. In biology, the term CK refers to the two birds' cloacae actually making contact and presumably transferring semen. Of course, human observers can never really be sure when this happens, just note the signs, such as the female's receptive raised tail. According to Tony\ Brake, the correct term for any attempted but not necessarily successful CK is copulation. This can be confusing as it it not necessarily how the layperson understands it. At the moment, the chat group as a whole has adopted ACK, attempted CK, though some prefer to follow the scientific terminology. For more information, see | Attempted CK Rosie and Richie. March 11, 2023 video by Toaster28 Richie and Rosie can be seen on separate light poles, often calling to each other, and sometimes eating a fish, or occasionally together. There have been a few attempted CK's.  Attempted CK on a light pole March 11, 2023. cap by Lee  Raven nest on the crane. 3 12 2023. cap by watcher  Rosie and Richie sleeping near each other at night. March 11, 2023. cap by midi March 13: Richie and Rosie were on the light poles most of the day. But Rosie did pay one quick visit to the nest, bringing a stick. She chirped and looked around. When nobody answered, she flew off with the stick. Is she trying to get Richie to help her build the nest? Video of Rosie flying and being harassed by a crow. Photo by Dianne A March 15, 2023. March 16: The weather was better today, warmer and sunny. And the ospreys responded. Rosie was seen delivering a stick to the crane and Richie attempted a CK on the nest.  Attempted CK on the nest. From video by Toaster28, March 16, 2023.  Rosie with a stick. March 16, 2023. photo by Dianne A.  Stick delivery to the sheave. March 16, 2023 photo by Toaster28. Attempted CK on the sheave March 16, 2023. video by Toaster28.  Intruder coming to the sheave where Richie and Rosie are already. March 16, 2023 from video by Toaster 28  Rosie and Richie on the wires of the ROV late afternoon of March 17, 2023 In the late afternoon of March 17, midi was at the nest. She saw Richie and Rosie on the wires of the ROV. Then they both flew off and seemed to be fishing in the ship channel. Midi walked along Canal Blvd. and soon saw Richie on one light pole eating a fish and a bit farther along she saw Rosie on another light pole, also eating a fish. Midi came back to the nest area and before she left, she again saw Rosie and Richie on the wire. Then they flew off again.  Last year's raven's nest. Midi heard them on the nest when down there. March 17, 2023  Rosie placing stick on the nest. March 19, 2023 photo by Toaster28 Welcome Rosie Welcome back, our Rosie Welcome home today. We are glad to see you, Our favorite osprey. Did you have a good time Down in Southern clime? Do you like to be alone, Down there on your own? Now it’s time to get busy, Find Richie and mate, Gather sticks and eelgrass, Start to nestorate. Lay some eggs, one, two, three For us all to see. We will watch day and night, To dawn’s early light. Chicks will hatch and will grow, Keeping us on edge, Until the day that fully grown, They decide to fledge. Then we will scan the skies For their bright blue bands. Until you and they decide, To migrate to Southern strands. Then Richie will be alone, Again a bachelor. And we will have to wait To see what is next in store. But Rosie, you will return, For you always do. We know we will see you again, We can count on you. So let’s raise a toast To our ospreys dear, Here’s to Rosie and Richie, And a new osprey year! Midi 2021 |