Osprey Cam Update!

A lot has happened since the installation of the osprey nest cam.  First, let’s rewind a bit! The camera installation was completed by Comcast in March at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (WBNERR). The nesting pair returned shortly thereafter on March 21^st.  In April, a total of four eggs were laid over the course of about a week (the final egg on Earth Day, April 22^nd).

In April, we held an online naming contest, and the adult pair were dubbed Rachel and Carson, after the famed environmentalist (see article below for more about Rachel Carson).

The first egg hatched on May 23^rd with some help from Rachel moving parts of the shell aside. She sat on the chick most of the day keeping it warm along with the other eggs. The second chick emerged the following day, and the third followed a few days later. Rachel has had her hands full feeding the chicks when they are hungry and Carson has done an excellent job hunting for them. The chicks grow amazingly fast!

Each day the chicks continue to grow more and more and are shedding their baby feathers. Unfortunately, the fourth egg never hatched and has since been pushed to the side of the nest. We are unsure why it never hatched but are thankful the other three did. Osprey on average lay three eggs, so Rachel and Carson were right on track.

Fast forward to July, the chicks have fully lost their baby feathers and are now starting to look like young adult osprey. To tell the difference between the juveniles and the adults, the juveniles are just slightly smaller and have amber colored eyes, versus the intense yellow of adults. The feathers of the juveniles are also tipped in white.

In July, Carson and sometimes Rachel, have continued to be the providers of meals for the offspring.  The chicks, however, have learned to pick the fish apart on their own.

The first chick fledged (flew off the nest) on July 20 and the others followed as expected within a few days.  These monumental milestones occurred right on schedule, about 8 weeks after hatching. Their first actual flights were preceded by a lot of practice – first spreading and stretching their wings, then wild wing-flapping while jumping up. The final lift off was quite a sight! All of this was captured on the live cam and recordings are available on our “Season One” highlights!

We’ve also observed some other interesting phenomena. There is a second active osprey nest in a chimney on the Visitor Center building of the Waquoit Bay Reserve, about 100 yards away from the camera nest. There may be some relationship between the birds in the two nests. In June, the camera nest had a female visitor, which was well tolerated by the adults, who almost seemed eager to “show off” the young hatchings. Then in July, a fourth juvenile, most likely a fledging from the chimney nest, occupied the camera nest for nearly two days. A variety of theories have been suggested – it’s possible the chicks in the two nests are all cousins or some other extended family members.

Now, in late August, we have mostly an empty nest, with occasional visits from Rachel, Carson or one of the juveniles. We miss seeing them every day, but know that they are busy preparing their skills for their September migration.

Looking ahead, the entire osprey family will fly south, separately, to spend the winter in the Southern hemisphere. The young will spend the following year developing more and using the survival skills that Rachel and Carson taught them. In two years, the young will make their way back  North and build their own nests. Scientists have found that offspring will build their own nest within a 3 mile radius of their parent’s nest. Rachel and Carson should also return to the same nest after their migration. We look forward to welcoming them back next March! We’ll keep a close eye for their return.

To keep up with Rachel, Carson and the growing chicks, you can watch our live cam found on the Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge website. Also, keep up with our highlight clips on any important video footage that is caught.