Blog #261 Salt Point in the Snow

 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, warmed her eggs through  her brood patch. Orpheus often sidled next to her as they both bent to the wind.  

Such changeable spring weather is usually a mild inconvenience for the Osprey,  provided it is short-lived. Hail storms, however, are especially dangerous because it can  crack the eggs. A few years ago, the Hell Gate Osprey nest in Montana lost all its eggs  to hail just a few days before they were to hatch.  

Snow or no snow, Orpheus’s body is raging with reproductive hormones. Even though  Ophelia is already incubating and has no need of his sperm, Orpheus is still compelled  to mate with her every few hours. Ophelia is bound to the nest by her eggs and would  

never leave them; however, Orpheus has no such physical constraint. Perhaps these  additional copulations strengthen his bond to his mate at a critical time when she is  totally dependent on him for fish.

Orpheus rising from incubation, courtesy of Cassandra Rooney. 

Orpheus approaching Ophelia on perch, courtesy of Cassandra Rooney.

Mating, courtesy of Cassandra Rooney. 

Ophelia’s eggs will take 36-42 days of incubation to hatch. Ophelia will do the majority  of the incubation with Orpheus giving her opportunities to stretch. Unlike some males,  Orpheus is very keen on incubating and sometimes has to nudge Ophelia off her own  eggs. This year we can expect to see the first egg hatch on or soon after May 19. 

Watch the action live on the Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam.  

Eyes to the sky! 

Candace 

Candace E. Cornell 

Friends of Salt Point 

Lansing, NY 

cec22@cornell.edu 

Guest Photographer:  

Cassandra Rooney grew up in Hawaii where she taught elementary and middle school  for 22 years. In 2018, she moved to Lansing where she lives with her husband, son, and  their three dogs. Cassy loves taking pictures and enjoys sharing her photos with others. 

Handicap accessible trail leading to the Osprey nest, courtesy of Cassandra Rooney. 

Read!  

On Osprey Time 

Ospreys of Salt Point 

Explore! 

Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail 

  

Watch!  

Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam 

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