Blog # 287 Fledge Day: Up, Up, and Away!

 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 courage and determination were not. After  short rests, Hope took off flying again and again, each time going a little farther afield.  Finally, the winds and her own resolve collaborated into a flight out over the water and  circling above the cove. This time she rejoined her family at the nest a more confident  bird, but her landing technique still needed work. Perhaps proud yet exhausted, Hope  feel asleep. 

Lucky is left alone in the nest when Hope goes exploring. This gives her more room to  flap and practice helicoptering, but she is used to having a nestmate. Her flight training  is still limited to cooler morning hours when she can flap her wings with impunity. She’ll  be ready to touch the sky within a day or two. 

There are so many changes at the nest and in such a short time. Orpheus tends to  leave fish in the nest for the fledglings to rip apart to feed themselves, but some  fledglings insist on being fed by the adults well into the fledgling period. Ophelia’s role of  mothering her offspring is coming to a close. Ophelia will start spending more time off  the nest, flying around to build her muscles in preparation for migration. She will be the  first family member to migrate to the southern wintering grounds, likely in early August  after her offspring are well on their way to independence. 

Lucky watches hope fly off. Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam. 

Young Hope will continue calling the nest home, but each day she will get more  independent and eventually will prefer to sit in trees and practice hunting. She will, 

Hope arrives for the dinner Orpheus brought. Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam.

however, sleep in the nest for at least a few more weeks. After that, she will sleep  (xxsay where) but will return to the nest for mealtimes. 

Inspired by Hope, Lucky tries out her wings. Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam. 

From an observer’s perspective, feeding the fledglings seems counterintuitive when  trying to get them to fish for themselves, but the Ospreys’ know best. However, parental  feeding provides a key transition to independence and enhances their survival. Orpheus  will continue to bring fish to the nest at mealtimes until the young can fish for  themselves. The feeding will continue until the last week of September.

Orpheus delivers dinner for his hungry family—Hope, Lucky, and Ophelia. Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam

Orpheus bringing a fish to the nest for the fledglings. Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam 

Watch the Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam to see the hard work that goes into the magic of  flight! 

Eyes to the sky!  

Candace  

Candace E. Cornell  

Friends of Salt Point  

Lansing, NY  

cec222@gmail.com

ALL EYES ON OSPREYS 

WATCH! 

Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam 

READ! 

On Osprey Time 

Ospreys of Salt Point 

VISIT! 

Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail

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