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Welcome to “Season Three” of our osprey cam! Get ready for another exciting season of osprey viewing at the Waquoit Bay Reserve, brought to you by the Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge
If you’d like to show your appreciation for the nest cam, please Support the Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge! As a nonprofit volunteer organization, we support a wide variety of education, research and stewardship projects within the Mashpee Refuge to ensure the long-term protection and enhancement of native wildlife and habitats.
Thank you in advance!
We are thrilled to offer this live stream of an active pair of Osprey at their nest at Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The pair are appropriately named Rachel and Carson, after the famed environmentalist.
This opportunity for a bird’s eye view of a beloved bird’s habitat is the result of a collaboration between The Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge, which helped plan and locate the site for this unique “nest cam,” the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of the Refuge partners, and Comcast, which generously provided the equipment, installation and broadband connectivity to power this viewing experience.
One of our goals as a community-based nonprofit is to give the public opportunities to enjoy and interact with nature and wildlife. Thanks to Comcast, the live streaming of this osprey nest will broaden our reach to all of Cape Cod and beyond. We are grateful for the opportunity to use the live nest cam for observation, research and education purposes.
View highlights from 2024 (“Season Three”)
View highlights from 2023 (“Season Two”)
View highlights from last year (“Season One”) – mating, egg laying and hatching, feeding and more!
Please feel free to comment below with your observations or any questions you may have. We welcome your comments and questions! If you’d like to see a list of questions other viewers have asked, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ospreys and the Nest Cam. You may also want to read this article to learn more about ospreys on Cape Cod.
Please note that first-time posters must be approved before comments are displayed, and allow up to 24 hours before your initial post can be seen by others.
Hi Kevin if you go to 2022 highlights you will find 2 videos of owl on nest, 11/23 & 01/19
Hi Dena. Thanks for the response. I had seen them at some point and that’s what gave me the idea to report this sighting.
Hello again Glenn, any chance you can post owl Kevin saw 12/21 @ 23:19:20…thx!
kevin
1 month ago
Reply to Glenn Davis
I just turned on the cam and there was an owl there. I don’t know how long it had been there and it flew of within a few seconds. Time was 23:19:20 on 12/21/23. Someone I know would love seeing it on the highlights page.Thanks.
Unfortunately I didn’t see Kevin’s message until it was too late. Recordings are only available for about 10 days then they get overwritten. I think the email just got lost in my clutter. Sorry!
Thanks for letting us know about the 10 day limit…I suggested looking back at 2022, you posted 2 videos of owl visits which are amazing!!!
Hi Dena. Thanks for checking in! The nest looks pretty cold and desolate this morning, no wonder they wait until late March to return. Wouldn’t it be great if we recognize Alpha, Brava and Charlie! Too bad we don’t have another nest ready for them.
Hello Glenn!!! Nest looks in pretty good shape, seems like most of the branches are still in place. I’m hoping we can identify them too…it would be amazing to see Charlie & then we will know he made it. I’m thinking they’ll stop by nest. Is it a lack of $$$ that there are no plans to set up more platforms or lack of suitable space?
Why aren’t there more platforms? Thats a great question and there isn’t really a simple answer. It’s less of a funding issue than it is about finding suitable locations where it is permissible to build without environmental or other restrictions. Most efforts I’ve been involved with involve replacement or repair of existing platforms. The Osprey Project in Falmouth focuses on siting platforms to replace where the birds build in dangerous locations on utility poles. I’ve noticed a lot of new platforms constructed on private property by homeowners wanting to keep nests off of their boats. State or other public lands (like at the Waquoit Bay Reserve) have a variety of restrictions on digging. There’s also a school of thought to encourage ospreys to build in natural locations and become less dependent on man-made structures . This of course is a challenge due to human encroachment of much of the water front land. I wish we could just pick a spot and build a platform wherever we want but it’s a challenge at many levels.
Thanks for the detailed explanations. I too wish Ospreys would choose a more natural nesting area & I am very grateful for all that the Osprey Project does placing platforms in areas of danger…sad thing is it seems every inch of our coastline is being developed with enormous multi million dollar homes…:-(
I’m already counting the days for their return…last year they arrived 3/25…& the juveniles from season 2022 should be returning this year, Alpha, Bravo & Charlie
Thanks for sharing the videos, Glen
I just posted a video of bluebirds and a hawk on the nest over the past couple of weeks. See the highlights page:
https://www.friendsofmashpeenationalwildliferefuge.org/osprey-cam-highlights-season-two/
Thank you, Glenn! Beautiful.
I just turned on the cam and there was an owl there. I don’t know how long it had been there and it flew of within a few seconds. Time was 23:19:20 on 12/21/23. Someone I know would love seeing it on the highlights page.Thanks.
Opsrey sitting on edge of nest 10/22 around 11:40am. Missed picture before it left
Great observation, Barry, but it was a red tailed hawk, not an osprey!
Hi Glenn, can you please post video of hawk? Also what are the objects bottom right corner on nest. I’m using an IPhone so kinda limited view but looks to be leftovers, maybe from hawk eating at nest
Thanks!
Just posted a clip of the hawk landing. I think what you’re seeing in the corner are just leaves. The hawk just perched there for about 10 minutes before flying off.
Thank you for the bluebird photo.Tania!
REMINDER: Walk for the Wild is tomorrow, Saturday October 14th, from 11am to 1pm. It’s not too late to sign up to walk the 5k route, or join us at our celebration event at Naukabout Brewery in Mashpee, where we’ll be showing clips from the osprey cam highlights from 11am-2pm.
Full details and registration: https://support.americaswildliferefuges.org/Mashpee
https://journeynorth.org/hummingbirds/news/fall-2023/10122023-journeying-across-north-america
Not osprey action…but lot of bluebird activity this morning 813-819…up to at a time squabbling over the nest.
Great shot – thanks for posting, Tania! Great to see people are still watching so closely!
We’re in Pocasset (not far from Mashpee), have had a productive nest with 3 offspring this year. We’re concerned that one osprey is still hanging around. It’s it doomed; is there something we can do?
According to Mass Audubon, there are some osprey who overwinter here instead of flying south.
Hi Annie. I’ve never heard this before, but I’d love to read about it if you have a source. I can’t seem to find anything about it.Thanks!
I just looked and can’t find where I saw it. I did a search and there was a box on the right that I am pretty sure said Mass Audubon, but can’t find it so far on their site either. So, maybe I misread?
Good news is that it hasn’t been seen in the past 2 days – hope it’s headed south
09/24/23 18:10
Does any one know what the brown thing is in the nest under the camera?
I was just watching shoestring bay and noticed at least two osprey diving for food (one had a successful catch!). They were not as vocal. I believe these must be the last of them on cape cod for the season 🙁
I’m guessing they must be roosting in trees near this local area – around Willowbend on the shoestring side of the bay.
I found another live cam (no sound, though) in Port Lincoln Australia (yes “down under”)! Camera appears to be remotely controlled. I have noticed the cam, at one point, zoomed out and I could see where the male is roosting. Mother is sitting on eggs. It says this cam is viewable through November. Below is link. This Australian osprey cam appears to be associated with the one in Lolo Montana (Dunrovin Osprey Nest Cam).
https://sportsmansparadiseonline.com/port-lincoln-osprey-nest-cam/
To anyone who’s in the local area: The Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge is holding their second annual “Walk for the Wild” on Saturday October 14th from 11am-1pm. It’s a 5k walk through Mashpee conservation trails to raise awareness of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Walk with us to thrive. Walk to make sure wildlife thrives! If you’re not in the area or can’t make it on the 14th, you can still participate. For more information and to register for free, go to support.americaswildliferefuges.org/Mashpee
Thank you.
i still check in, however I’m concerned with the small tree near the road- it looks like it’s leaning more since all that wind, there’s a lot of rain now. could loosen the tree trunk more. just a concern. thanks joan
morning visitor
when will they migrate away? Feels like it’s close.
They’ll leave one by one anytime this month. We haven’t seen much of them in the nest lately, but can still hear their calls so we know at least some are still around.
TY, with Delta and Echo so young how will they fare with the migration to South America?
They make their way alone, relying on innate abilities. With the coming storm, I wouldn’t be surprised if they leave today or tomorrow to get ahead of it. Along with all the other creatures trying to get off the Cape. At least they don’t have to worry about bridge traffic!
😆
You been checkin in on the Pathogue wounded soldier? It slept on the railing of the nest last night but I wonder how it is eating……..
😁
oops here’s the pic
Back again this morning
must be the same osprey but the light on it’s feathers makes it look like more like a chick
Morning Osprey
well hello. who have we here?
14:29 Sat .. Still there calmly calling out, family where are you? 😄
Just now, there was an osprey sitting on the nest!
Someone in the nest calling for lunch. Echo?
I was at the Waquoit Bay Reserve this morning and heard and observed MANY ospreys. They’re in the air and perched in trees and on boats. I wasn’t able to identify any of them, nor even which were adults vs. juveniles. But even though they’re not in the nest much these days, they haven’t left for their long migration South yet. They seem to be enjoing the last bits of summer like the rest of us!
Thank you for update.👍
& again at 12:20…
Hello there! 09/03 @ 08:54:00
Thats a surprise. I don’t think it’s Delta or Echo because this one looks smaller?
Barry, I think it might be Carson. He has solid brown feathers (unlike the chicks who have some white with brown feathers). Also Carson is smaller than Rachel. I am so bummed that I have missed all these cameo appearances of them. I have been watching the Lolo, Montana cam because these chicks are still at the nest.
I THANK GLEN AND EVERY ONE FOR THIER INPUT…SO MUCH APPRECIATED. I AM A JOURNALIST FOR THE MASHPEE ENTERPRISE AND WROTE AN ARTICLE TITLE MR, CARSON & RACHEL OSPREY WARRIORS 0N 5/19/2023. NOT SURE IF U READ IT. ENJOY JOAN
Looked like Rachel who stopped by briefly to the nest at 6:50 am
Sorry I didn’t get a chance
Sept 1 2023. Glenn, I will send a donation today with my thanks and appreciation for a wonderful Season two. I look forward to Season three.
Thanks Beverly, and to everyone who has donated to our efforts! If you haven’t already, please click the “Support Us” link here or at the top of the page to contribute online or by mail.
I’m so grateful to have found this nest and all the lovely comments and great observations. I’ve been a watcher of the NH Great Bay Estuary Osprey nest and tragically they eventually lost all 3 chicks this year, it was heartbreaking. So wonderful and mystifying to be able to follow nature’s way.
If anyone asked me about ospreys in January, I would’ve looked at them, as if they had 10 heads. Wow, what an amazing summer watching amazing birds. I just want to thank everyone for the photos and info. I can’t wait for next spring. Thank you Glen and everyone be safe
Many thanks to Glen and the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for providing the opportunity for so many of us to observe and learn about the life of ospreys. I wish Carson, Rachael, Delta and Echo a safe migration and look forward to next year and their return. Thanks to all viewers for your insightful and educational comments.
I’m watching the osprey nest camera in Brewster (https://ccmnh.org/attractions/osprey-cam) – no volume or night vision camera – just daytime video. The chick in there must be so hungry that it does not bother to fix that feather sticking straight up!
Darn, it’s gone now. I should have captured a pic.
With all the comments about “missing them” and an “empty nest” thought I would post this info again. The are two juveniles still being fed on this nest. Also, when the osprey do leave the owners put a bird feeding station on the nest site so there is activity all winter.
https://sportsmansparadiseonline.com/dunrovin-osprey-nest-cam/
The camera can be controlled remotely. They must have someone who monitors it. Yesterday it zoomed in on a feeding juvenile right after the female delivered a fish. Later they zoomed in on a perched juvenile and scanned every inch of it. You could read the stamping on the metal leg band and you got a great view of the orange (before they turn yellow) eyes.
Great nest! Beautiful birds chirping for fish, I would guess. Gorgeous area too.
Thanks, Surferboy!
Thank you Surferboy! I have bookmarked that 🙂
I’ve got mixed emotions on seeing the empty nest. I also wonder whether they have already begun their migration or are still in the area. If so, it would be a couple of weeks earlier than last year. I’ll missing watching them, and I’ll miss all of you. All season, I’ve been able to sit back, watch the nest activity, read your comments and know that questions will be answered by our faithful community of viewers. Thank you all for your dedication to the osprey family, and for the helpfulness and consideration you show one another. We are all part of the family. Thank you also for your support of the Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge and our efforts. Our organization would not exist without our dedicated volunteers, our commiitted members and generous donors.
Rachel, Carson, Delta and Echo, I know everyone joins me in wishing you a safe journey and and a successful winter and return back for many seasons to come. Good fortune to you all!
We’ll also keep the video stream running. Last year, there were squirrels, owls and other creatures. Who knows what activity we’ll see during the coming off-season.
Thank you again and all the best,
Glenn
Glenn Davis, President, Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge
thanks for all the time you put into this adventure for us and also posting the highlight videos. I am one of those who still will tune in once or twice every day. Even though the osprey seem to be out on their adventure, you never know what you might see. The sound adds to it, wondering what I am hearing. Again, thanks for a wonderful year.
Thank You for keeping the video camera running! Just listening to the nature sounds today is amazing too. Blessings to all.
thanks glenn and all involved for providing us the ability to be part of an osprey family-seeing how they interact-how personalities develop and sadly, when survival of the fittest plays out. being able to have audio as well is invaluable. I’ll be looking forward to season three of rachel and carson next spring
Thanks Glenn for your dedication to this project. It has been great these past 2 years to have a ‘Birds Eye View’ of the goings on in the nest. Looking forward to viewing the off season activity and season 3 next year.
This was my first season watching the osprey family. There is an osprey nest on my property & I work with local wildlife people to maintain the nest. It was wonderful to see the Mashpee nest activities close up & personal on a daily basis. Looking forward to see them back in the spring. Thank you to everyone involved with this project. Hopefully they have a safe journey 🤞🏻