Blog # 273 Lucky

Lucky, Ophelia’s second hatchling, was born Monday morning, after 40 days of  incubation. Forty days is usually the limit of gestation of an Osprey egg so it was coming  down to the wire. The third egg has until May 30 to hatch if it is viable. At this rate. It’s  looking good that it will. 

The two nestlings are difficult to distinguish as they huddle next to the third egg. 

Salt Point Osprey Cam screenshot.

The two hatchlings, Hope (6 days old) and Lucky (1 day old). Salt Point Osprey Cam screenshot. Orpheus brings a sucker for the family. Hope, 5-days old, just before Lucky hatched.  Salt Point Osprey Cam screenshot. 

My concern about the eggs was that the cold wet weather we had in April and May  could have rotted them, but the eggs seem to be fine. But weather worries continue. 

Orpheus brings a large fish to his young family. Salt Point Osprey Cam screenshot. The young hatchlings cannot thermoregulate until they are 2-3 weeks old and must  depend on their mother’s body for warmth. The young hatchlings are vulnerable to cold,  wet weather and often die if they get wet. Heavy rainstorms, especially if they last for  several days, can soak the young and the nest cup. In the Massachusetts colony  studied by ornithologist Alan Poole, 20-30% of the chicks can perish within a few days  of a severe rainstorm. 

Investigations show that some nests stay drier than others in such severe storms,  perhaps due to the way they were constructed or how efficiently the females brood.  However, much of this weather-related hatchling loss depends on whether the male can  provide enough fish to the family in such bad weather. Orpheus at Salt Point has an  extra advantage to providing for his family. When Cayuga Lake is stormy and too  difficult to fish, Orpheus usually pulls out a bullhead from the murky waters of Salmon  Creek to feed the family. 

Eyes to the sky! 

Candace 

Candace E. Cornell  

Friends of Salt Point  

Lansing, NY 

cec222@gmail.com 

  

Read!  

On Osprey Time (blog) 

Ospreys of Salt Point

Explore! 

Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail   

Watch!  

Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam

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