It had been some weeks since anyone had visited the Lake Nepessing Rd. nest up in Lapeer. We (Jim Kortge and Barb Jensen) were quite anxious to know if C37 and his mate had been successful in producing offspring.
When we arrived, C37 was standing atop one of the antennae, eating on a rather large (estimated at over 2 pounds) fish.
After delivering most of the uneaten fish to the nest, C37 took off. He returned a short while later with a wad of grass in his talons. With the grass in the nest, he was off again.
Jim Kortge photo; used with permission
We had the spotting scope and camera set up in a parking lot on the West side of Lake Nepessing Rd. This location allowed us to see the top of the nest rim and the presence of chicks should there be any. However, it put us several hundred yards away from the nest, making observing and photography challenging.
After watching for perhaps 30 minutes, we were able to make out the presence of two chicks, perhaps 3 weeks in age. They are in front of their mom in this picture in the highlighted area.
Jim Kortge photo; used with permission
As we continued to observe this pair, another pair of ospreys arrived. They were quite high at first, but then started dropping down to get a better look at C37's nest.
All the time, C37 and mate were watching these intruders get closer and closer. Mother osprey was loudly protesting their arrival of course and protecting her chicks!
Jim Kortge photo; used with permission
With mother osprey still protesting loudly, one of the intruders prepares to land on her nest! C37 is in the middle of this picture, trying to decide what his next move should be.
He had been off the nest for an extended period of time trying to escort these intruders away, but without much success.
Jim Kortge photo; used with permission
We thought the intruder was going to land too, but at the last moment, it veered to the right and missed landing on the nest or the tower, instead, dropping down between two of the antennae.
As soon as it was past the nest, C37's mate took off in pursuit and drove the intruder a safe distance from her chicks. At that point, C37 joined the chase and moved this intruder out of the area.
Barb and Jim were speculating whether the intruders were another pair from the area who had not been successful nesting, or young ospreys just looking around who might return next spring.
It had been some weeks since anyone had visited the Lake Nepessing Rd. nest up in Lapeer. We (Jim Kortge and Barb Jensen) were quite anxious to know if C37 and his mate had been successful in producing offspring.
We had the spotting scope and camera set up in a parking lot on the West side of Lake Nepessing Rd. This location allowed us to see the top of the nest rim and the presence of chicks should there be any. However, it put us several hundred yards away from the nest, making observing and photography challenging.
As we continued to observe this pair, another pair of ospreys arrived. They were quite high at first, but then started dropping down to get a better look at C37's nest.
With mother osprey still protesting loudly, one of the intruders prepares to land on her nest! C37 is in the middle of this picture, trying to decide what his next move should be.
We thought the intruder was going to land too, but at the last moment, it veered to the right and missed landing on the nest or the tower, instead, dropping down between two of the antennae.