Blog #260 Ophelia’s Eggs

 Easter morning (April 12), Ophelia leisurely flew out over the lake, circled over Ladoga Point, and traced the outline of the marina and Myers Park as she returned to her nest.  That would be her last taste of freedom until she migrates in mid-August, as she has a  new job to do. Nevertheless, Orpheus mounted and tried copulating but she rebuffed him. 

Orpheus mounting Ophelia. 

Ophelia looked awkwardly full as she fidgeted, pecking absently at twigs, and moving about her nest. Settling in the nest one minute, rising and readjusting the next, over and  over she moved until she finally raised and lowered her rump expelling an egg. This  was Ophelia’s first egg of 2020. It is also the first egg of Ophelia’s I’ve ever seen, which is exciting for me. It’s taken five years to finally get a functional camera recording the intimate nest life of the breeding Ospreys at the Salt Point Natural Area and now we have it! Last year, Orpheus and Ophelia were unable to breed, making this egg especially welcomed.

Ophelia’s (front) and Orpheus’ new addition. 

Ophelia’s egg is perfectly shaped with a medley of chocolate, rust, cream, and chestnut-colored swirls and spots. Ophelia tends it carefully, rolling the egg gently so that the embryo develops properly, and repositioning herself on it. For her egg to develop  normally, it must be kept between about 97-100 degrees F, which is just a few degrees  

Orpheus and Ophelia with their new egg.

below the average avian temperature of 104 degrees F. Both male and female Osprey  have a bare spot or brood patch on their breasts for better heat transfer to the eggs 

Orpheus takes over incubation while Ophelia flies off for exercise. 

when incubating. Although Ophelia has always laid 3 eggs, Ospreys can lay 1-4 eggs per clutch and do so asynchronously, usually 1-2 days apart. Ophelia’s next egg should be laid approximately on April 15 and 18. 

Orpheus brings a small perch to an incubating Ophelia.

Now that Ophelia is incubating, she is glued to the nest, only leaving for a bit of exercise provided Orpheus relieves her. Most Osprey pairs share incubation duties with the female doing the majority of the task. However, the degrees to which Ospreys perform their normal behaviors differs among the population. Some males are reluctant to incubate while other males go to the other extreme, refusing to leave the eggs. Orpheus and Ophelia have raised six broods cooperatively together and have learned to balance their breeding responsibilities. It is a tender sight to see Orpheus, bearing gifts of fish,  carefully land on the nest to relieve Ophelia of her duties. After the hungry mother grabbed the fish and flew to a perch to eat it, Orpheus carefully negotiated his way over to the egg, rolled it gently, and proceeded to incubate.  

Orpheus incubating the egg. 

It is amazing how much change one egg can bring. Before egg laying, the pair concentrated on nest building and defending their nest from intruders, but took every opportunity that presented to mate. Contrary to last year, when the pair was disturbed by numerous intruders, there have been very few interrupting them this spring. Both birds gathered materials for the nest although Ophelia guarded the nest for much of the day. Orpheus did his duty by fishing three to four times a day for he and his mate. Their life had a rhythm. 

With the onset of egg laying and incubation, the couple’s behavior changes. Ophelia no longer leaves the nest, except for breaks, as she incubates the majority of the time.  Orpheus is much more protective of his fertile mate and guards her and his egg from the perch. Since Ophelia will no longer leave the nest, Orpheus must attend her carefully and respond to her hunger cries. 

Orpheus guards his incubating mate. 

Eyes to the sky! 

Candace 

Candace E. Cornell 

Friends of Salt Point 

Lansing, NY 

cec22@cornell.edu 

All images are from the Salt Point Osprey cam. 

Read! 

On Osprey Time 

Ospreys of Salt Point 

Explore! 

Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail   

Watch!  

Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam 

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