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June 16, 2003 - Not 2, but 3 Osprey Chicks!
Tracy, Julie, and Barb head for nest
This is the beginning of the nest survey operation.  The goal is to look into the nest to determine the number of live chicks, and if there are any unhatched eggs.

In the canoe are Tracy Marshall, coordinator for this year's Stony Creek hacking program, Julie Oakes, from the Michigan DNR, and Barb Jensen, OWSEM volunteer and last year's Kensington Metropark hacking coordinator.  They are heading for C09 and mate's nest on Wildwing Lake.
Canoe arriving at nest
Arriving at the nest platform, the canoe is held against the platform legs for stability. C09's mate can be seen flying above her nest, watching the activity, and issuing repeated alarm calls.  C09 was out of camera view, but close by.
Julie with observation mirror
An observation mirror on a long pole was used to look into the nest. This is the traditional method for surveying a nest's contents. Both Julie and Barb could see 3 chicks, and no unhatched eggs.
C09's mate returns to her nest
Within a few minutes of the canoe pulling away, C09's mate returns to the nest to check on her brood. The chicks are unharmed, of course, by this activity.
C09 returns to the nest
A short time later, C09 arrives back at the nest too.  His mate has her wings spread slightly to shade the chicks from the sunlight, keeping them cool.
The "nest cam" on its way
After the parents and chicks had time to recover from the look with the mirror, the canoe heads back to the nest with a small digital camera atop another pole.  Jim Kortge, (in yellow hat) another OWSEM volunteer, built the setup to photograph the nest's contents. This was its first use.
3 chicks in nest
Sometimes new methods do work as designed!  Here are C09 and mate's chicks.  There are indeed 3 of them, ranging in age from 1 to 2 weeks.  The oldest chick is facing right, the middle chick is facing the camera, and the youngest chick is facing away.  The two older chicks are starting to grow pin feathers, while the younger chick is only covered with down.

Please Note:  The photographs on this page were taken by Jim Kortge, and Bob DeLosh.  They are copyrighted material, and cannot be used without the photographers written permission.


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