Breaking News - 2003!
October 27th - Well, we thought all of the osprey chicks from the Wildwing Lake nest had migrated to their South American wintering areas in early September, as no one had had seen them for several weeks.  Then an email, and a follow up telephone call from Suzie Gaunt in Commerce Township, and we had a confirmed sighting of C42, on Reed Lake. That was followed by a great photograph (here) of C42, sitting in a tree in the Gaunt's front yard, taken by her neighbor Jay Harrison. C42's yellow-green ID patch can be clearly seen. We're hoping more photographs will be forthcoming, if C42 remains in the area.

So much for our conclusion that all of the chicks had migrated!  Now we are wondering if the other two chicks (C41 and C43) are still hanging around somewhere along the Huron river watershed.

OWSEM is greatful to Susan and Tom Gaunt, and Jay Harrison for providing this information.  It is another important data point regarding wild osprey behavior.
August 11th - Much has been happening since the last posting.  We wanted to wait until the outcome was assured before updating the web site.  As expected, all three of the chicks have finally fledged.  C42 made his flying debut on Friday morning, August 1 at about 9:15 am.  He was gone from the nest for most of the day, and finally returned in the evening at 6:45 pm.  Not to be outdone, C43 fledged the following morning, August 2, at 9:30 am.  He also was out most of the day, and came back to the nest to eat at 4:20 pm.

Over the next two days, both C42 and C43 were flying around Wildwing Lake, dragging their talons in the water to test it and get its feel.  Following that activity, both birds were seen practicing water entry, floating about, and then exiting.  Their flight skills were simply amazing with only 2 days of practice.  By the end of the week, they were hovering, and practicing water entry at much higher speeds, those necessary to catch a fish.

While all of this flying by C42 and C43 was going on, C41 was practicing his flapping, while gaining wing strength and control.  His last day of practice was Saturday, August 9, when he was seen flying high above the nest on several occasions, but never venturing beyond its perimeter.  Early Sunday morning, he also fledged, leaving the nest about 7:30 am, and returning at 9:00 am.  He flew from the nest many times that day.

Two picture series are included with this update.  The first series includes photos of all three chicks flying above the nest, prior to their fledging.  The second series, shows C43 practicing a slow speed water entry and exit.
July 19th - The chicks are now about 6 weeks old, and completely feathered out. All three are still getting plenty to eat, and are beginning to try their wings. Over the next 3 weeks, they will develop the wing muscles and coordination needed to fledge.

The nest is occasionally visited by C5 and his mate, and C22.  When this happens, much commotion ensues. The most recent set of images documents one of these visits.
July 12th - More exciting news!  On Thursday, July 10th, biologist and osprey expert Sergej Postupalsky, with assistance from OWSEM volunteers Barb Jensen, Christi Vedejs, and Jim Kortge, and Michigan DNR biologist Lori Sargent, spent the afternoon retrieving, sexing, banding, painting, and photographing the three chicks from the Wildwing Lake nest.  All went well except attempts to catch the unbanded female (mother of these chicks) were thwarted; she was much too wary to land on the nest once the trap had been placed there.

The most exciting part was learning that all three chicks are very healthy and males!  It is the male ospreys who imprint on the lake where they fledge (first fly) and learn to catch fish.  Imprinting brings them back home in 3 years (with mates, hopefully) to nest and raise another generation of ospreys.  Many pictures of the days activities are here for viewing.

OWSEM sincerely appreciates the dedication, time, and effort provided by the folks involved with this July 10th "banding" activity.
June 28th - Another series of images are available for viewing here.  The nest continues to prosper, with the chicks growing larger each day.  The oldest chick is approaching 4 weeks, and they all now look like ospreys, complete with feathering, and their classic orange eyes.  Their eyes will change to bright yellow as they mature into adults.

C09 is providing lots of fish, so mother and babies are getting plenty to eat!
June 16th - There are 3 baby chicks in the nest!  Today, a nest survey was performed using two techniques.  The first used a mirror on a pole, to look into the nest and count the chicks and unhatched eggs.  That survey showed there were 3 healthy chicks, and no unhatched eggs.

A second technique was employed using a small digital camera on a pole to photograph the nest's contents.  The results are stunning, and can be seen here!
June 13th - We have baby chicks in the nest.  Although we don't know the total number for sure, we have seen two at a time, frequently.  We have also been observing one chick, and seen whitewash (osprey excrement) go over the side of the nest from another.  The chicks are about 2 week old, give or take a few days, based on feeding activity observations by several OWSEM volunteers.  If you have not signed up to observe this active nest, now would be a really good time.  We need volunteers to observe and record data as these chicks grow, fledge, and finally learn to catch fish on their own, before migrating in the fall.  This link will take you directly to the osprey chick images.

Ospreys C5, what appears to be his mate, C22, and C22's mate were seen over Wildwing Lake on Friday the 13th.  They came by to visit C09 and his mate, but were driven away.  Two of these intruders attempted to land on C09 and mate's nest, which caused quite a commotion, and lots of shrieking by C09's mate.  While there were many tense moments as this activity played out, it was glorious to see six ospreys flying together over Wildwing Lake at one time.
June 4th - Here are updates on the following:

Missing ospreys C22 and mate have been seen in the park several times over the past 3 weeks. They are putting an occasional stick on the nest platform at Windfall Hill Bay picnic area, (near the Milford Rd. park entrance) probably staking it out for use next summer.  This pair of ospreys has been seen in various locations, including the Village Canoe livery in Milford, at Wildwing Lake, and at several locations within Kensington Metropark on Kent Lake.

Osprey C5 is also appearing occasionally at Wildwing Lake, and may well be the osprey reported fishing on Lake Shannon, South of Fenton, two weeks ago.  His mate did not return to the park this spring, unfortunately.  Hopefully, he will find a new mate and return for his fourth season next year.

Several pictures have been added to the photo section, taken by Bob DeLosh.  Thy are absolutely wonderful images and have been donated for our use.  These images are but a few of the many he sent in, (thanks Bob) and more of Bob's great photography will be featured in the coming weeks.
May 7th - Just about the worst scenario imaginable has occurred!  C5 has driven C22 and mate off the nest on Cormorant Island, leaving their eggs to perish.  On top of that, two days of looking for C22 and mate within Kensington Park and outside at Island Lake State Park have not produced any positive sightings.  Their location is unknown!  We desperately need volunteers in the field searching for these two osprey.  They may be close by (Proud Lake Recreation, South Lyon, Brighton, or Milford), or they may have fled to a more distant location (Highland Recreation, Howell, Fenton, or Holly).  If you see them, or think you have seen them, please send an email to opsrey@owsem.org with detailed information.  Hopefully, they have not abandoned the area completely, and will re-nest within the next few weeks.  It would be great if we can track them down and confirm they are OK.
May 3rd - C5 (if that truely is his leg band number) from 1998 is back.  He was sighted twice while looking over the nest used by C09 and mate on Wildwing lake, and viewed and photographed on Kent Lake making advances to C22's mate, who is using his old nest on Cormorant Island.  We're not sure how this one is going to play out.  He may get quite aggressive and insist on having his old nest back, or may go for one of the new platforms scattered about Kent Lake, the Huron river, or Island Lake.  Hopefully, his mate is not too far behind him in arriving, and that event may defuse the situation some.  C5 can be identified by the missing right wing feather at the elbow.  That missing feather puts a very noticeable "notch" in the feather pattern, and can be easily seen when this osprey is overhead.  (See May 3rd pictures for details)
April 29th - C09's mate appears to be sitting on one or more eggs!  This morning, the pair was observed for one and one-half hours.  During that time, the female never left the nest.  She got up several times, moved nest material around, and appeared to be rolling eggs too.  Each time she sat down, she would do the often observed "wiggle" to get herself over the eggs without breaking them, while also getting comfortable.

The Cormorant Island pair, C22 and mate, are getting disturbed by boating traffic passing by too closely, and are flying off their nest.  This could present a serious problem.  Last year, the pair of osprey using this nest site abandoned it after eggs were layed, due to heavy boating activity.
April 26th - What was thought to be C5 orginally, from the 1998 hacked birds, is indeed C22 from the year 2000 hacking effort.  That group had 6 birds in it, so we may yet see another bird this summer from that year.  He is with a female wearing a red band on her left leg.  This would suggest she is a Northern Michigan bird banded by Sergej Postupalsky, probably in 1995 based on band color.

At this point, the whereabouts of C5 is unknown.  Hopefully, he is alive and well, and may just be late returning to Kensington.
April 24th - C09 and mate have abandoned their old nest West of the hacking tower, and are now using the new nesting platform at the Southwest end of Wildwing Lake.  The reason for this move is not apparent.
April 15th - C5, the male from 1998 is back.  He was seen on the Cormorant Island nest today.  His mate has not yet returned.
April 14 - C09's mate arrived this morning.  This pair are refurbishing their old nest, as well as putting a few sticks on one of the new nesting platforms at the Southwest end of Wildwing Lake.  C09 has presented his mate with several freshly caught fish.
April 9th - We believe osprey C09 (Bucko's dad) is back.  He was seen numerous times last week. Then the ice storm came, and he was missing.  Today, he was back again at Wildwing Lake, perching, carrying nest material to his old nest, and getting ready for his mate to arrive.