On Osprey Time

In their ninth week, Hope and Lucky have begun the post-fledging dependence period— the time after leaving the nest during which Osprey fledglings still depend on their parents for protection and food. This period, spent learning to fish, can last from several weeks to a month or more as the fledgling gradually perfects this innate skill.   Hope sitting on a cottonwood limb, courtesy of Karel and Cindy Sedlacek.  Hope is mad for flight and literally cannot get enough of it with Lucky not far behind. The  fledglings have attained an adult body size, but their flight feathers still need time to fully Awkward flight of the Salt Point fledgling with dangling legs, courtesy of Karel and Cindy Sedlacek.  difficulty during take-offs. The feet often dangle, dragging in the air, until the bird closes  its talons and brings its legs close to the body. Such awkwardness vanishes in time.  Now the Salt Point young share the sky with fledglings from neighboring nest...

Lucky on her maiden flight, July 18. Screenshot from Salt Point Osprey Cam.  Lucky had been practicing his wing flaps and looking very lonely on the nest every time  Hope would leave him alone. Lucky showed great excitement whenever Hope would fly  and land. Lucky’s first fight came right after Hope left the nest on the morning of July 18: The flight was fueled by pure enthusiasm. Like many first flights, it was short with a   modicum of control as he beat his wings continuously to stay afloat. Gaining altitude  was problematic as was steering, but he made it back to the nest. With time and practice, he will become a skilled aerialist in the grand Osprey tradition.   Lucky’ time spent study his sister’s flying prowess was not for naught as he instantly  picked up some of the take-off techniques Hope did not achieve until several days in the  air. By the second day, Lucky was a capable flier. It’s easy to spot the novice flyers as  t...

  By all assessments, Hope’s first flight was tenuous. It is not clear if she deliberately fledged or if it was a happy accident. She floated off with little fanfare on Monday, July  13, 2020, circling the nest twice and returning promptly to her mother’s side. Many   Lucky watching Hope take her maiden voyage. Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam.  fledglings make a fuss chirping in the frenzy of taking off, but Hope uttered only a single  cheeerp before the wind lifted her flapping wings, giving herself to the wind. She was a  bit unsteady in the breeze and struggled to gain balance. After two hesitant circles  around the nest, she returned to her nest, barely making the landing. Her approach was  too slow on almost a horizonal angle with her outstretch talons ready to grab anything  she could.   Hope landing with her legs horizontally out in front of her. Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam.  Although her style maybe lacking, Hope’s coura...

  Toxic harmful algal blooms (HABs) look like different colored foam, scum, floating mats,   or a discolored film floating on the water’s surface. HABs are caused by a wide variety  of blue-green bacteria—planktonic cyanobacteria—and not algae at all. Microcystis is  the most common bloom-forming genus, and is almost always toxic. When these  naturally occurring colonies become overabundant, they become problematic.  Cyanobacteria use sunlight to create food and thrive in warm, stagnant conditions with  high nutrient availability (particularly phosphorus). HABs are becoming more frequent in  waters like Cayuga Lake, which receive high nutrient inputs from fertilizers used in  agriculture, golf courses, lawns, and gardens.   Discolored water of a HABs in Owasco Lake. Courtesy of DEC.  HABs are troubling for three reasons: their decaying bodies deplete water bodies of  dissolve oxygen (hypoxia) killing fish and other aquatic...

Lucky wingersizes after Hope just finishes. Screenshot from Salt Point Osprey Nest Camera.  Fledging is a watershed moment for an Osprey—a rite of passage into adulthood.  Learning to fly is the first important step toward independence and requires confidence  and practice.   If they follow the calendar, Hope will fledge any day now and Lucky is not far behind.  This is perhaps the most entertaining time at the nest as attempts at flight turn into a  comedy of errors. The nest, which looked so cavernous in April, is now overcrowded  with young birds spreading their wings as they ready to fledge. The fledgling are the size of adults with most of their feathers, making the nest a bit crowded. Screenshot from Salt Point Osprey Nest Camera.  Since the weather has been so hot, they are only able to “wingersize”—building up flight  muscles coined by nest cam watchers—in th e cooler mornings and might need an extra   Hope gets some ai...