On Osprey Time

Ospreys typically lay eggs in the morning, so the bird is not constrained by the weight of the egg during the  daytime. Studies in New England show older females lay two weeks earlier than younger females, and  pairs that previously nested together lay earlier than newly formed pairs. Early breeding is an advantage to this predominantly monogamous species, especially in areas with short breeding seasons. Early  breeding pairs generally produce more young with higher survival rates.  Some of the many colors and patterns on Osprey eggs, courtesy of YouTube, flicker, and nwrafting.  Osprey eggs are considered one of the most beautiful eggs in the animal kingdom. They have a creamy  white to cinnamon-peach backgrounds and are heavily wreathed and spotted with rich red to dark brown with flecks of lavender and swirls of mahogany in an infinite number of patterns. The surface is satin   More unique Osprey eggs, courtesy of acorn naturalists, flicker, an...

  As discussed in the earlier blogs, Ospreys are compulsive collectors, building their nests out of whatever materials are available throughout the breeding season, including eclectic human detritus. Natural materials, such as branches, twigs, grasses, algae,  seaweed, and reeds form the basis of most nests. In a rural area like the Finger Lakes,  cornstalks are common. Just before egg laying, lining materials are supplemented by an endless collection of human garbage. In dairy country, you may find milking machine and tractor parts, rubber boots, fertilizer bags, tools, hats, dried cow manure, plastic garbage bags, plastic toy parts, lost clothing, bicycle tires, hula hoops, telephone cords, and ropes of all kinds. Particularly hazardous garbage includes twine, plastic netting,  string, six-pack holders, snarls of fishing line, and fishing nets.  Young osprey in nest with plastic bags, courtesy of Conserve Wildlife Foundation.  Perhaps one of the strangest...

  Ophelia preening just after sunrise with eyes closed (notice the white eyelid)  as she incubates. Snapshot from the Salt Point Osprey Cam.  Ophelia and Orpheus are outstanding, attentive parents, directing all their energy toward their brood. In the past, Orpheus would give Ophelia breaks from incubating at meal times and occasionally in between, but he never showed a huge interest in it. This year, it is totally different—he’s become Mr. Mom.   Orpheus typically gives Ophelia a break from incubating at mealtimes. However, this season, Orpheus tries to incubate every few hours and will even try to push Ophelia off the eggs for the privilege. Likewise, Ophelia frequently has to get physical with Orpheus to regain her position incubating. Ospreys are single-minded, determined, and even stubborn birds; Ophelia and Orpheus are not exceptions. Now that Orpheus has decided he wants to incubate, too, the pair has minor pushing matches on the nest. Orpheus pushing Oph...

Changing of the guard, Ophelia about to incubate her three eggs. Snapshot from the  Salt Point Osprey Cam.  At first there was just one egg with chocolate, cinnamon, and rust blotches along with  some swirls. The second was much lighter mahogany spots and cinnamon flecks on a  creamy background. The third egg, laid around 7 am. on April 20, was a mix of the other  two, with a russet glow, making all three eggs highly distinguishable.   The coloring of Osprey eggs, and birds eggs in general, is an interesting topic. Egg  patterns—the distinctive, fantastical blotches, swirls, streaks, speckles, flecks, and  spots—are created by protoporphyrin pigments absorbed by the porous eggshell during  its passage through the female’s oviduct and are as individual as a human fingerprint.  Closeup of Ophelia’s three eggs.  No two Osprey eggs are alike and each female produces her own shell patterns, which are distinguishable by the breeding...

  Salmon Creek at the base of the Salt Point Natural Area, courtesy of Cassandra Rooney.  A late spring snowfall covering the early blossoms, swollen buds, fledgling mergansers,  and other signs of spring brings silence to Salt Point. Stubborn winter, refusing to  loosen its grip, will soon succumb to the warming sun.   Ospreys are used to this kind of volatile weather. Nesting in early March and April  exposes them to turbulent winds and storms. Just the other afternoon, incubating  Ophelia had to endure driving lake-effect snow, sleet, rain, and pea-sized hail in the  space of an hour while the sun shone over Ithaca, just six miles away. Orpheus getting ready to fish, courtesy of Cassandra Rooney .  Orpheus and Ophelia, veteran nesters of seven seasons, are familiar with Cayuga’s  erratic conditions and idiosyncrasies, having protected their clutches of eggs through  the worst of storms. Today, Ophelia, while dusted in snow, ...