Blog #455 Being Neighborly—Is it seasonal?
All three Salt Point fledglings, entering their 15th week, developed rather quickly this summer, reaching the post-fledging dependency milestones of flying and fishing ahead of schedule, giving them ample time to develop their independency. The post-fledging period is harder to study as the fledglings roam, and their dependency on their nest begins to fade. Nest defense, however, is still sacrosanct, and it is defended by the adults and fledglings alike, that is unless you’re a neighborly Osprey teenager just wanting to hang out.
The more the post-fledging-dependency period is studied, the more unusual aspects are revealed as they prepare the young Ospreys for a long independent life. Instead of feeding his offspring directly after fledging, Orpheus, and sometimes Ursula, leave food in the nest 2–3 times a day to ensure the young have the energy while they are learning to fish. It can take four weeks or more for fledglings to perfect their innate fishing skills, learn the best fishing spots, and adapt the proper fishing techniques. During this time, the young still depend on fish handouts at the nest and their parents for protection.
The struggle between wanting to hunt and the availability of free fish is a delicate balance for each fledgling. The instinct for independence must be very strong, motivating the young to hunt instead of taking free food and maintaining a dependence on its father.
In August, an odd shift in nest territoriality takes place at some area Osprey nests. Neighbor fledglings can be seen visiting each other’s nests and begging fish handouts from the nest.
Two resident fledglings welcome three neighbor fledglings to their nest, courtesy of Cindy Sedlacek.
parents. Daily visits from neighboring fledglings may last a few hours to perhaps several weeks
One untagged aggressive female fledgling is thought to have visited a neighboring nest for three weeks this summer, occasionally being fed by the resident parent. During these three weeks, two more untagged neighboring fledglings joined the group, staying for several days and receiving fish from both parents associated with the nest.
How is it that the adult males and females can quickly switch from being ultra-territorial and protective of their nests and families to welcoming neighboring fledglings and feeding them? To complicate the question, these adults may suddenly switch and chase the visiting fledglings away. Is this a question of breeding hormones fading as the summer wanes?
As the breeding season progresses from start to finish, Ospreys go through an array of hormonal and behavioral changes which are constantly in flux. When not breeding, Ospreys are not territorial and can be seen fishing in numbers over a tropical bay or river.
Once they return to their nests in breeding season, territories go up, intruders chased, and visitors are not welcomed. Once eggs are laid and young are raised and fledge, the parents go through slow hormonal changes preparing them again for migration and a solitary way of life. The parents know the neighboring fledglings by sight and may not see them as a threat. The parents let their guards down and permit select neighbor fledglings to visit their nest and often feed them. Intruders are still not permitted near the nest and are chased away as always.
A particularly atypical aggressive female visiting fledgling bit one of the resident male fledglings and pinned him off the side of the nest. The young male eventually got away after much pushing. This unneighborly female visitor has stolen a few fish deliveries to this nest showing there’s always a spoilsport.
Sometimes a visiting fledgling will get caught in the crossfire of an intruder chase and be scared in the process, but they may be welcomed once the defending adult calms down. Photos by Cindy Sedlacek.
The adult female chasing the youngster inadvertently, courtesy of Cindy Sedlack.
Once the fledglings learn to fish and attain full independence from their parents, they are called juveniles and nest in the trees near the nest until ready to migrate. The waning signs of the season help regulate the hormonal changes in the Ospreys preparing them to migrate south along rivers, lakes, bays, and coastlines on their long journey to the Caribbean and South America.
Juvenile Osprey flying by Salt Point, courtesy of Cindy Sedlacek.
Eyes to the sky!
Candace
Candace E. Cornell
Friends of Salt Point, Lansing, NY
Cayuga Lake Osprey Network
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 Film Container---------20 to 30 years
Plastic Bags----------------------10 to 20 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
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