OWSEM members Jim and Kathy Kortge journeyed to the Hillsdale area again on June 13th in an attempt to determine if the ospreys there had chicks in the nest and to read the band numbers on the males green hacking band. When they arrived, the female was on the nest, sitting much higher than was observed weeks earlier. They speculated there might be a chick or more in the nest.
Jim Kortge photo; used with permission.
After waiting for over 2 hours, the male finally appeared carrying a very small fish. He gave it to the female who consumed it, but didn't attempt to feed anything in the nest. A bit puzzling to say the least, unless any chicks that were there had been fed before we arrived.
Jim Kortge photo; used with permission.
After eating her fish, the female flew off the nest and circled overhead for a couple of minutes. While she was gone, the male kept looking down at something. We were sure it was one or more chicks, but this nest is so deep, we could not get a glimpse of a head or some movement between the branches. Most frustrating!
Jim Kortge photo; used with permission.
With the return of the female, the male was off again to circle around the nest and land on the right side of the cross arms, his favorite place to roost. It was this series of "legs down" photos that allowed the identification of the male as being C35. Reading the "5" was very difficult, and indeed may be a "3". Eventually, someone will see that last digit again to verify our identification.
OWSEM members Jim and Kathy Kortge journeyed to the Hillsdale area again on June 13th in an attempt to determine if the ospreys there had chicks in the nest and to read the band numbers on the males green hacking band. When they arrived, the female was on the nest, sitting much higher than was observed weeks earlier. They speculated there might be a chick or more in the nest.
After waiting for over 2 hours, the male finally appeared carrying a very small fish. He gave it to the female who consumed it, but didn't attempt to feed anything in the nest. A bit puzzling to say the least, unless any chicks that were there had been fed before we arrived.
After eating her fish, the female flew off the nest and circled overhead for a couple of minutes. While she was gone, the male kept looking down at something. We were sure it was one or more chicks, but this nest is so deep, we could not get a glimpse of a head or some movement between the branches. Most frustrating!
With the return of the female, the male was off again to circle around the nest and land on the right side of the cross arms, his favorite place to roost. It was this series of "legs down" photos that allowed the identification of the male as being C35. Reading the "5" was very difficult, and indeed may be a "3". Eventually, someone will see that last digit again to verify our identification.