Blog #451 Into to the Air
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—in the cooler hours. All three birds have been conscientious with their exercises, and it paid off. The sooner the birds fledge, the more time they have to learn fishing.
Each day the jumps grew higher and their air time increased. Fledglings are copycats—whatever Lilly does, Milly and Silly soon repeat. Emblematic footage of their early morning flight practice can be found on the Salt Point Nest Camera for Jul 11, 2020 entitled “Lilly winger-sizes, flies to perch 20200711 111401 20200711 112314.”
With every breeze, the young birds respond by rapidly flapping their wings and helicoptering, fighting to catch the wind for their first awkward flight. Maiden voyages often end quickly after the chick flies a few revolutions around the nest and lands, ideally, back in the nest or on a nearby perch. The fledglings often seem disoriented after their first flight but recover quickly.
Flight, no matter how instinctual, requires practice to develop strength and finesse. All young birds on their first flights look unsteady, but young Ospreys take klutziness to a
whole new level. Orpheus and Ursula watch protectively at this stage. Controversial observers report parents using food to tempt their young to make their first leap; however, much is left to interpretation by the observer.
If a strong gust blows a fledgling off the nest so that it makes an awkward, uncertain landing on a tree branch, a parent may fly to its side, modeling proper landing and takeoff techniques. With coaching and practice, the young Osprey’s first awkward flaps soon turn into majestic soaring in the sky.
Occasionally a fledgling has trouble maneuvering back to the nest despite but is encouraged by its parents’ and siblings’ calls. Sometimes a fledgling will crash-land on the platform with an audible thud, or miss the nest entirely on the first pass and struggle to make a second landing. It’s when the young birds are caught by the wind and inadvertently land on the ground that they are at risk.
Ospreys are magnificent flyers and skillful anglers but are not built for maneuvering on land, which contrasts with eagles and other hawks. Osprey fledglings look particularly out of their element on the ground—so much so that people often mistakenly think they are wounded and try to help. As long as the bird is not near any hazards such as a road, it’s best to leave it alone. The fledgling’s parents will most likely be on guard and feed it until it is strong enough to get lift and fly. If you believe the bird needs help, call the Swanson Wildlife Health Center at Cornell University for instructions.
After only a few days of flying, the fledgling becomes adept at capturing the wind under its wings. Landing properly takes longer to master, often with comical interludes. It takes
practice, practice, and more practice for the young Ospreys to become expert aerialists.
Eyes to the sky!
Candace
Candace E. Cornell
Friends of Salt Point, Lansing, NY
Cayuga Lake Osprey Network
cec222@gmail.com
What to do if you find an injured animal?
Call the Swanson Wildlife Health Center at 607-253-3060.
The Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Health Center, an annex of the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, is a veterinary hospital dedicated solely to the treatment of ill or injured native wild animals. They provide expert medical and surgical care for over 1,000 patients annually, from locally and across the state of New York, with the goal of releasing them back to the wild. The Wildlife Health Center operates within Cornell University, a registered nonprofit, and relies largely on public donations.
Guest Photographer:
Cynthia Sedlacek, musician and Director of Data Administration and Reporting at Cornell University, is a surprising artistic talent. Cynthia’s affection and admiration for raptors are evident in her exciting photographs primarily of Ospreys nesting around Cayuga Lake and the red-tailed hawks of the Cornell Campus. Her photographs of local Ospreys are incomparable as she captures their essence, their jizz, and their inner bird. From the hard-to-see nestlings to the fast-flying adults, Cindy goes beyond the pale to catch all aspects of Osprey life in the Cayuga Basin. “My camera allows me to capture their beauty in many ways that the human eye can’t see,” she says, “like their spectacular wing positions and detailed feather patterns.” Cindy and her husband Karel are also avid nest monitors for the Cayuga Lake Osprey Network and video stream footage of the campus hawks.
EYES ON OSPREYS
WATCH!
Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam 2022-23
READ!
On Osprey Time: Ospreys of the Finger Lakes
VISIT!
Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail Nests Driving Tour
Complete Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail
HELP PROTECT OSPREYS:
•Stay 300 feet away from nests during the breeding season.
If the Osprey vocalizes, you are too close! BACK OFF IMMEDIATELY.
•Carry binoculars to view wildlife from afar.
•Recycle used fishing lines, twine, and nets, which can kill Osprey.
•Join the Cayuga Osprey Network: cec222@gmail.com.
•Help keep local waters clean, healthy, and safe. Pick up trash and do not litter. Trash stays in the ecosystem a long time before it disintegrates. Plastic just breaks down into smaller pieces.
Aluminum Can-------------------80 to 100 years
Plastic 6-pack Holder----------100 years
Orange or Banana Peel-------Up to 2 years
Plastic Bags----------------------10 to 20 years
Plastic Film Container---------20 to 30 years
Glass Bottles---------------------1,000,000 years
Plastic Coated Paper----------5 years
Nylon Fabric---------------------30 to 40 years
Leather----------------------------1 to 5 years
Wool Socks----------------------1 to 5 years
Tin Cans--------------------------50 years
Source: NYSDEC
Comments
Post a Comment