Blog #335 Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer


(L-R) 3 week old nestlings Olan and Rosie with Ophelia in the nest. Lilibit is off to the side out of view.


It’s hard to believe that Rosie is already over three weeks old (24 days) and half way to becoming his/her adult size. Olan at 21 days and Lilibit at 19 days are getting more active than before. In these lazy days of summer, the young sleep, shaded by their mother, probably 95% of the day, waking only to stretch, feed, preen, and defecate. The young will continue to be brooded by Ophelia intermittently until about a month old or as necessary depending on the weather. In the hot sun, the 3 to 4 week old young will seek shade under their mothers. The eldest chicks, Rosie and Olan, preen frequently to quell the itch of new feathers while Lilibit puts in extra time sleeping. 


The trio are getting better at navigating in the nest with their overly-large feet, often dipping forward head first to use their wrists to pivot or steady themselves. Like puppies, they will eventually grow to a size to match their feet. Their enormous feet are adaptations for catching large fish and are not intended for walking. After all, they are birds of the sky. 


The dominance hierarchy does not seem to play a big part in nest life now that the young are stronger and more mobile. It has no place at feedings as all three eagerly beg for food. The only competition seems to be between Ophelia and Orpheus, over who gets the fish. When Orpheus does not want to give up his fish, the occasional tug-of-war breaks out over the fish, with both Ospreys pulling on it. 


Ophelia feeding Rose, who has a ring of rusty feathers around her neck. 


Feeding times are well-ordered with three hungry mouths pressing forward. Whomever gets their mouth open first gets a bite of fish. This works well as one chick is fed while the others are eating or swallowing. Rosie and Olan seem to get the

same amount of food at feedings with Lilibit taking slightly less. Now that the chicks have grown crops—the first of two stomach chambers—their hunger levels can be inferred by the fullness of the crops. Lilibit appears to get plenty to eat. The young will continue to be fed by their mother until about their 40 day. At this time, the young will start feeding themselves, taking prey from Orpheus as he lands at the nest or from Ophelia after she has fed. As the young get large, Ophelia will give the fish to them first and eat last. 


The nestlings play by having short bouts of wrestling and taking occasional pecks at each other. It’s doubtful that these little jabs inflict pain or damage as the nestlings readily participate. Playful round-robin pecking break out often and don’t seem to be related to hunger: Olan may peck Rosie, Lilibit might peck Rose, and Lilibit and Olan may go at it. Dominance does not seem to be involved in this play.


The nestlings frequently flap their wings as they cross the nest, presumably build their muscles and coordination while simulating flight; they often land on their heads. When the young stretch, appearing much bigger than when cuddled under their mother.



Ophelia and her offspring (L-R) Lilibit, Olan, and Rose waiting for a late dinner.


Now that the chicks are older, Ophelia periodically leaves them alone for up to five minutes as she hunts for sticks, counting on their camouflage to protect them from roaming bald eagles. Is a stick really worth the risk of losing a chick? As the nestlings grow, sticks are used to build up the sides of the nest to protect the young from falling out. Orpheus occasionally brings sticks to the nest, but his job is to concentrate on fishing, so the task turns to Ophelia. 


Eyes to the sky! 



Candace 


Candace E. Cornell 

Friends of Salt Point 

Cayuga Osprey Network 

Lansing, NY 

cec222@gmail.com 

 


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HELP PROTECT OSPREYS

  • Avoid getting too close to nesting sites during the breeding season. If an animal vocalizes when you're near, you are too close! Back off Immediately.

  • Carry binoculars to view wildlife from afar.

  • Restore, clean, and preserve lakeshore and wetland habitat. 

  • Recycle used fishing line, which can be hazardous to Osprey. 

  • Join the Cayuga Osprey Network and volunteer to help monitor Osprey nests. Write to: cec222@gmail.com.


EYES ON OSPREYS

WATCH!

Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam 2021

READ!
On Osprey Time—A Blog  on the Ospreys of Salt Point


VISIT!
Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail

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