Blog 353 Landing Legs


Rosie and Lilibit playing in the sky, courtesy of Karel and Cindy Sedlacek. 

Most of the Osprey young have fledged around the lake, except for a few stragglers like the Hangar Theatre nest in Ithaca that is a month behind. Activity in the nests are mostly limited now to meals and bedtime although the youngest fledgling sometimes hangs out there during the off hours. Lilibit has started fishing with the other fledglings,  which is atypical of the third fledge. Usually the third waits an additional week to be fed  before trying their luck in the stream. However, the fledglings are all are losing their  affinity for the nest already. This may be an early group to migrate south. 

Several weeks ago, Orpheus, the adult male at Salt Point, reduced the amount of food  he brought to the nest to encourage the young to fledge. Once they did, mealtimes went  back to normal as the fledglings will take weeks to learn to fish. Occasionally during the  day, Ophelia or Orpheus will alight on the nest to check things out. Lilibit, who fledged 

Lilibit flying over the lake, courtesy of Karel and Cindy Sedlacek. 

the latest on August 24, comes back to the nest well before the others, picking through  the nest for fish debris and begging for the next fish.  

In the Northeast, young Ospreys usually remain at or near their nest for at least 10 –40  days after they can fly, during which time their parents, primarily the father, continues to  bring fish to them as he has for the past two months. The young follow their fathers on  hunting trips. The mother usually migrates south at this time leaving the final rearing to  the male. When the young are four to eight weeks post-fledging (roughly three months  old), they begin hunting on their own, although in Salt Point’s case this year, Olan  started fishing at a week post-fledging. The fathers do everything they can to encourage  their young to become self-sufficient and secure their own food, from demonstrating the  best places to fish to showing off techniques. They must be able to take care of  themselves for their long, solo flight south in September.

Rosie in a tree, courtesy of Karel and Cindy Sedlacek.

Olan testing his landing legs on a branch too thin to hold him, courtesy of Karel and Cindy Sedlacek. 

The fledglings perch in the shade of cottonwoods their parents used throughout the  nesting season. Here they wait in the perching trees for signs of a fish delivery at the  nest. All three fledglings have caught a number of small fish, but are not yet skilled. All  three are still highly dependent on their parents adults, but the end of the summer will  come quickly, as will their need to be competent fishers. Although the other two young  fly over the lake skimming the water, only Rosie has attempted to get food. 

The fledglings are testing their “landing legs,” learning to discern which branches will  support their weight and which will not. After seeing attempted landings quite a few  times, it’s clear they don’t yet realize that skinny branches will hold them. They try to get  their balance wobbling back and forth, then take off again when the branch gives way.  The landings are still quite rough! 

The young are always within eyeshot of the parents, and the parents are very  protective. Yesterday a great blue heron crossed paths with Rosie in flight, and  immediately Ophelia gave the heron the bum’s rush. She flew after it, diving  occasionally, until the heron, squawking for dear life, was out of sight. Orpheus did the  same “chase and dive” at a turkey vulture today, moving it out of the nest’s air space.

Lilibit and Olan watch Rosie in the sky, as Ophelia waits for a fish. 

It’s interesting watching Orpheus, Ophelia, and the fledglings adopt new sets of  behaviors now that the nestlings have fledged. 

Eyes to the sky! 

 and be kind to one another. 

Candace  

Candace E. Cornell  

Friends of Salt Point  

Cayuga Osprey Network 

Lansing, NY  

cec222@gmail.com 

Guest Photographers: 

Karel and Cindy Sedlacek are for the birds. Both musicians and data analysts for  Cornell, the Sedlacek’s are usually on the trail of a red-tailed hawk somewhere on the  Cornell University or Syracuse University campus, videotaping their daily behaviors. 

Karel and Cindy share my passion for Ospreys and monitor nine Osprey nests in the  Ithaca area for the Cayuga Osprey Network. Cindy has a knack for capturing the spirit  of our local Ospreys in her stunning photographs. Thank you, Karel and Cindy. 

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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