July 19, 2003 - 6 Weeks Old and Excitement Galore! |
Dawn of a new day. At first glance, one
would hardly believe there are three, 6-week old osprey chicks sharing this
nest with their mother.
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When C09 lands with a
large, partially eaten fish, the chicks wake up, and the nest gets really
crowded. As C09 hands off the fish to his mate, a great deal of commotion
ensues, with much flapping, and loose down feathers flying everywhere.
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With mother
bird firmly in control of the fish, it is time for breakfast. The first chick
to get fed is C42. Being the oldest and largest does have its advantages!
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The next chick up is
C41. Being the smallest and youngest, but the most scrappy, ensures plenty
of food and survival. Waiting in line is C43.
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C43 ate until he couldn't
hold anymore. In fact, that was true for all three chicks. Mom got to eat
all she wanted too. Then C41 and C42 came back for seconds.
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Multiple alarm calls
from the female announce the presence of an intruder. C09 makes a beeline
to the nest from his nearby perch. The chicks are down flat, hiding from the
impending danger.
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With wings set, shielding
their young, the parents await the intruder.
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The intruder is none
other than osprey C22, coming by to see what is happening at the Wildwing
Lake nest. He makes a couple of passes by the nest, and then flies away.
If you look closely, you can see the green band on his left leg. |
With adrenaline
pumping, C42 tries his wings. 57 flaps - a very good effort!
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Not to be outdone, C41
tries his wings too. Only 13 flaps, but it's a start.
After all the morning's excitement abates,
the chicks are back down for a nap.
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Please Note:
The photographs on this page were taken by Jim Kortge. They
are copyrighted material, and cannot be used without the photographers
written permission.
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