On Osprey Time

  Lilly flies about Salt Point, courtesy of Cindy Sedlacek. The Salt Point fledglings are in their twelfth week at Salt Point and busily exploring the area. Since fledging, the young have spent their airtime perfecting the art of play, flying in circles, steering amongst the trees, and chasing any bird they can find. Proper landing techniques and being able to balance on perches come with repetition as the young become more confident. All three fledglings use the small cottonwood snag on the lake edge for perching, preening, and resting between flights around the point. The fledglings sit on this perch for hours staring at the water as they develop search images of the fish they will soon hunt. Clinging to branches in the wind, they exchange distinctive low, repetitive whistles. The other day, two of the Salt Point fledglings demonstrated how they continually adjust their balance and footing with the help of their wings. If a fledgling falls backwards, it counters by rowing its wings b

  Natural lighting as a fledgling takes off to fish, courtesy of Cindy Sedlacek. Like a child going to school for the first time, the young fledgling leaving the nest is exposed to a whole new world beyond their parent’s control. Ten-years of observations at the Salt Point nest (sample size = 29) reveal that maiden voyages, or first  flights, are usually spontaneous events that occur when conditions are just right: a gust of wind lifts a fledgling frantically flapping and trying to get airborne. Fledglings on their first short flights show only modest control as they beat their wings continuously to stay afloat. Gaining altitude is as problematic as steering. The fledglings usually stay proximate to the nest on first flights rarely flying higher than the trees as they circle the nest platform 2-3 times before their first landing. Several fledgling at Salt Point over the years have detoured to attempt landings on the snags before coming back to the nest but without success. Awkward firs

  Lilly getting her first air, courtesy of Cindy Sedlacek.                                                                                                                       Fledging is a watershed moment for every Osprey—a rite of passage into adulthood and the first key to their freedom. Learning to fly is the first important step toward independence, requiring confidence and hours of practice. Lilly fledged first  on July 12, then  Milly and Silly, each about a day or so apart. Fledging is an entertaining time at the nest as attempts at flight can turn into a comedy of errors. The nest, which looked so cavernous in April, is now overcrowded with young birds flapping their five-foot wingspans as they ready to fledge.             Despite their instincts to exercise their wings and practice flying, hot weather zaps the chicks’ motivation. Since the weather has been so hot, the youngsters are only able to “winger-size”—a term for building up flight muscles coined by nest cam watchers

  Lilly flapping her wings, courtesy of Cindy Sedlacek. It is hard to miss the Salt Point fledglings now :  Lilly, Silly, and Milly —are six weeks old and impressive looking with their adult-feathered bodies. Their upper body feathers have been well-oiled using preening oil (uropygial oil) to give them a waterproof covering, just in time for summer storms. Ursula sits in the nest when she can, trying to shield them from the extremes of weather, but her protection isn’t as effective and essential as it once was. The fledglings regulate their temperatures and are insulated with their protective feathers, trapping air within the soft layer on their chests and underneath the flight feathers. This year, a handful of weeds are growing in the nest offering additional shade. Often the Ospreys rid their nests of these volunteer plants that seem to have an adaptive value as long as they don’t take up too much room. Temperatures have been scorching this week with afternoons punctuated by heavy th