This is the second photo contributed by nature photographer Torsten Pawlowski. He was photographing the nest on Wildwing Lake at Kensington Metropark when this female intruder attempted to land on C09 and mate's nest. She actually tried to land three times, according to Torsten, before giving up.

We're wondering if this might be the unbanded female from the Milford nest checking out the neighbors?

Torsten Pawlawski photo; used with permission.

The first of two photos contributed by Allen Chartier, Michigan's foremost hummingbird expert. Allen took this photo of the male taking off from the nest that is in the Sterling State Park impoundment adjacent to Elm Rd.

Shooting through 12 foot high fragmites made it difficult to get a clear image. However, if you look closely, you can see the silver US Fish and Wildlife band above a red class band on the left leg, and yellow class band over the black hacking band on the right leg.

Allen Chartier photo; used with permission.

Allen also sent along this photo of the other active nest at Sterling State Park. Even though the nest platform is tipped from ice damage, the nest bowl will be level when complete so that the chicks are not at risk of falling out.

This platform had an active nest on it two years ago, but not last summer. It can be seen from the pavillion.

Allen Chartier photo; used with permission.

The most recent nest to be discovered is located just North of Milford. The ospreys who built this nest are believed to be the same pair that were discovered nesting on a cell tower between Brighton and Howell a few weeks ago. Those birds disappeared and reappeared here.

We believe there are two females associated with this nest.

Jim Kortge photo; used with permission.

Although difficult to see in this photo, this Milford nest female, carrying a fish the male brought her, has a black or dark blue band on her left leg and a silver US Fish and Wildlife band on her right leg. This photo was taken on May 3rd.

She was on the nest when the male arrived with this fish for her.

Jim Kortge photo; used with permission.

Five days later, on May 8th, this photo of a female carrying nesting material was taken at the Milford nest site. She put this material into the nest and flew off to gather more. It is assumed the male was in the nest while this activity was going on, as another bird could be seen moving around.

She has no bands on either leg!

Jim Kortge photo; used with permission.

This photo is of the Milford nest male. If you look back at the previous album showing the male from the Brighton-Howell nest, you'll see that this osprey is banded in an identical manner. He has a black hacking band on his right leg and a silver US Fish and Wildlife band on his left leg.

This osprey probably came from the Ohio DNR hacking project. From other photos, we belived the last number on the hacking band is either a 3 or an 8.

Jim Kortge photo; used with permission.

A recent trip to the Hillsdale area allowed us to photograph the active nest down there. It sits on a power pole with dual crossmembers. A visit last year was disappointing as the nest had been abandoned. Not this year. The female was incubating and the banded male was on guard.

He has Michigan hacking bands; a green, single rivet hack band on his left leg and a silver US Fish and Wildlife band on his right leg.

Jim kortge photo, used with permission.

A close up of the Hillsdale male ospreys leg bands. The green hacking band is clearly visible. In another photo, we can see that this band used a single rivet for closure, but the rivet appears to be missing.

In 2001, we had that problem at the Kensignton hacking facility. The rivets were undersized for the hole in the band and didn't fit very tightly. Perhaps, this is a Kensington chick. Once the band numbers can be read, we'll know for sure.

Jim Kortge photo; used with permission