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Monday, May 24, 2010

Now We Have A Great New View!

Hope you're all enjoying the newly-shifted camera angle - we made our move when the opportunity arose and got it done quickly!


Jazzel wanted to add a few thoughts about the state of the nest, and whether these birds are new or past residents! Here are her thoughts:


I'm very sure, now, after comparing countless pics of head markings, that these are the original resident WHOI Cam Ospreys. It's very difficult to compare pics from the old cam and new cam.


The intruder issues on the WHOI nest, this season, have been well documented by many cam viewers…both in commentary and pics.


Below is Dr. Rob Bierregaard's answer to questions I had about the intruder issues in Hilton Head, SC, Cape Coral, FL, this season and Conanicut, RI and Cape Henlopen, DE, last season. I posted this on the Hilton Head blog.


"I don't know exactly how long they have to get going. We've had young fledge in mid-late August on the Vineyard, so that pair probably didn't lay until late May. It may have been a renesting after a lost clutch, or it could have been one of these turn-over in the breeding pair situations, which very often result in no nesting for that year. I suspect that most of the intruder situations occur when one of the adults doesn't return and the fight to fill the vacancy is really protracted because none of the contestants has the psychological advantage of having been there the previous year. "Home-court advantage" is really a big deal in birds.


Eggs are produced about 2-3 days apart (more if the female is not in really good condition). I suspect that they could recycle only if it's really early in the nesting season. Whether they recycle or not would depend on physiological condition, and what the levels of estrogen were in the female's blood."



Looking back at nest caps, I don't believe there was a third egg….but I have more screen recordings to check.


The male is doing the incubating. But part time incubating will not result in a hatch.


The intruders are not an issue now...but they were at the start of the season, resulting in a very late start for the resident pair. It makes perfect sense that the male would incubate and fish...he would be doing this, at this stage in a normal season. It also makes sense that the female is not incubating, consider what Dr. Bierregaard said about the females estrogen blood level...


As I said, I believe this is the resident pair from past seasons. Someone commented this may be a young female accustomed to fish deliveries to the nest just waiting to be served, and to inexperienced to understand incubation.


A "young inexperienced" female would be three or four years old, and fishing for herself since her first migration, she would also be fishing for herself until her eggs hatched, while the male took over incubation duty. I think she's simply guarding her nest.


There are many ospreys in the area...including the new nesting pair on a building 500 yards from the cam nest, and more young ones arriving...a distraction, but not a intruder take over issue.


The WHOI pair are guarding the nest...insuring their claim for next season....note Dr. Bierregaard's comment on "Home-court advantage"


Hope this helps. This is a great learning experience..take notes : - )


Please comment on your observations.


JAZZEL


3 comments:

  1. I have really enjoyed the new view. It is very interesting to get your interpretation of what's going on, Jazzel. We noticed another new constructed platform near the bikeway and Surf Drive intersection. A few sticks have been gathered there. The pond nest near the bikeway and the pole nest on Elm Street seem to be incubating as well as four nests on the bikeway wetlands. Once baseball season starts we'll find out if that pair has again been successful. It's just a great area for the birds and watchers!
    Eileen

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  2. It was a fairly domestic scene this morning at the nest. One of the pair calling for breakfast and the other shortly delivering an entire medium fish. It was quickly taken to the perch and consumed while the deliverer sat watching upon the two eggs.
    The only unusual sight I noticed was a flash of red flying by twice and the intent watching of the remaining Osprey from the perch after breakfast with the eggs exposed.
    Guarding the nest for the future seems to be the most important priority.

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  3. Fabulous view and clarity!!

    I do have a question...does WHOI cam remain up throughout the year?

    Also, will the human debris be removed after the ospreys have left the area?

    Looking forward to 2011!

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