Blog #374 Orpheus is back!

March 28, 2022

Canada Geese in the Salt Point nest.

Literally minutes after posting my last entry on March 22, 2022 (Blog #373) announcing the first reunions of nesting Osprey pairs in the Cayuga Lake Basin, Orpheus arrived at his Salt Point Natural Area nest, only to find it occupied by two fat Canada Geese. Despite a 2:1 weight disadvantage per goose, Orpheus

Orpheus reclaims his nest from intruders.

drove them off by charging and loudly screeching. After this dramatic entrance, Orpheus settled in his nest fiddling with twigs. Thin after his long migration home, Orpheus will quickly put on weight after

feasting on Cayuga’s bountiful fish. Orpheus has been collecting sticks and twigs to refurbish the nest as best he can in anticipation of Ophelia’s arrival.

Orpheus collecting sticks for his nests.

The nest is the focal point of an Osprey’s life; it is where they mate, breed, lay eggs, raise young, and protect the family. Without a nest, there can be no family, no next generation, and marks the end of their genetic lineage. There is fierce competition for safe nest sites, and, once building commences, a lifetime commitment of time and energy is invested in this nest. If a nest is lost, it may take a few years to find another building site. Orpheus and Ophelia have been nesting at the Salt Point Natural Area since 2013, and it is always a relief once the two reunite.

On the morning of March 27th, Orpheus’s hold on the nest was again challenged. Upon returning from a hunt, Orpheus encountered his nemesis, a bald eagle. Bald eagles rob fish from Ospreys and, along with great-horned owls, kill Osprey nestlings. Despite the eagle outweighing the Osprey three-fold, this scrappy, flying ace put up a good fight, screaming and diving at the behemoth, driving it off his nest.

Orpheus took his rightful place at the nest, crying out his nest ownership to all around.

Bald eagle on the Salt Point nest that Orpheus.

Bald eagle was driven off the Salt Point nest by Orpheus.

The commotion must have caught her eye, for just as it was over a female Osprey shouted a welcoming “Creeee!” to Orpheus. Orpheus had been alone at the nest for at least five days waiting for his mate of nine years, Ophelia, to return from South America. But who is this female? She has a rich, dark necklace, and her forehead has more white than Ophelia’s.

As she boldly flew into the nest, instead of chasing her off, Orpheus turned his back to her submissively and mantled with his shoulders raised and wings slightly held out. Obviously, in favor of the union, the female approached him with her head lowered and tail raised to accommodate him. Overcome with reproductive hormones and procreative, Orpheus eventually got the hint and mounted her, and mated, and continued to do so for the rest of the day. What about his loyalty to Ophelia? He’s overwhelmed with the reproductive imperative. Has his mate, Ophelia, been delayed? Will she return in time to reclaim her nest? Ophelia’s about 13-15 years old and in her prime—will she be able to overpower and expel this presumed younger homewrecker? Or has she perished? Only time will tell.