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June 22
This report is one of those "good news" and "bad news" affairs.
The good news
is that both nests at Kensington Metropark have chicks in them! There
are 2 chicks in the Wildwing Lake nest, offspring of C09 and mate. This
is the 7th year the C09 and mate have had successful nests. The other
nest at Windfall Bay Hill has 3 chicks in it. This is the 5th year that
this pair of ospreys (whose origins are unknown) have produced 3
chicks. On Sunday, June 8th, photos of both nests were taken when the
chicks were nominally 2-weeks old. All appeared to be very healthy and
doing well. At the Windfall Hill nest, several photos of mother osprey
feeding her brood were obtained.Some of those photos are in the latest
photo album.
Other nests in the Milford/Highland area were also checked earlier in that week with evidence of chick activity there also.
Confirmation
has been received that the second osprey platform at Sterling State
Park that is adjacent to Elms Road has an active osprey nest.
Previously, we were lead to believe that an active nest was across the
canal on the Ford property. The identity of the osprey pair using this
platform is still unknown.
A report of another new active nest Southeast of Jackson,
MI has been received. This nest is reported to be in a cell tower located on Springville
Highway between Sheeler and Stephenson roads. A trip is planned soon to
verify this nest. However, if you happen to live down that way, please
check out this nest location and let us know what you see.
Now the bad news!
The thunderstorm(s) that blew through Southeast Michigan late afternoon on
Sunday June 8th destroyed two of the active nests in our area. The nest
at Highland, MI that belongs to C42 and mate had approximately the
upper 1/3 of its material removed and the chicks that had been hatched
were lost. We don't know how many chicks perished, but had verified
that chicks were present in this nest. The other nest that was lost was
the one on Inwood Rd. in Macomb county. This was a first year nest. We are told it was
completely blown off of the cell tower and the nest material scattered about on the
ground. No one knows if there were chicks in that nest, but the female
was seen brooding a couple of weeks before the storm hit.
As
best we know, no other nests sustained damage from that horiffic storm.
The two lost nests are now shown on the "2008 Sighting Map" with a
purple triangle and the date when they were lost.
We believe
there are still 10 active nests in the Southeast Michigan region.
Hopefully, all will successfully produce some chicks that will fledge.
Keep your fingers crossed!
| June 3
A
Sunday morning (June 1st) trip to Macomb county by Jim Kortge yielded
observations and photos of the two reported nests on Inwood road and at
31 mile and Mound road respectively.
The Inwood Rd. nest is
located on a cell tower on the property of the Macomb Sportsmans Club
and can be viewed from a Stony Creek parking area just East of the
nest that provides access to a hiking trail. Unfortunately, the sky
was very overcast which prevented getting really good photos. However,
enough were obtained to document that the nest is active. A
female could be seen in the nest brooding with just the top of her
head showing. The male was seen twice perched on an antenna on the
East side of the tower. What is most interesteing is that there is also
an additional female with this pair. She was seen coming into the nest
with a fish but left with it a short time later. Other observers of
this nest have also seen and reported this "extra" osprey. It will
be interesting to see how the female interacts with any chicks that may
hatch.
There is another Macomb county nest just East of
the intersection of 31 Mile and Mound roads. This nest, which appears to be incomplete but has an impressive array of
sticks, is also on a
cell tower . OWSEM members have reported seeing a pair of ospreys on
this tower and have witnessed sticks being delivered so the nest is
still under construction. We're not sure if the pair observed is yet
another pair of ospreys or the male and "extra" female from the Inwood
road nest. Simultaneous observations of both nests needs to be done to
solve this mystery.
Select photos of these two nest are included in a new photo album.
On
May 28th, Jim and Kathy Kortge and Barb Jensen journeyed to the
Brooklyn, MI area in search of an active osprey nest that was reported
by the DNR during a flyover earlier this nesting season. Despite having
reliable GPS coordinates and stopping at many potential nesting
locations, we could not find this nest. The GPS coordinates that were being used are: N 42 06.200 W 084 13.108
This
set of coordinates points to a rather large flooded area that
is North and East of downtown Brooklyn, MI and appears to be an
ideal
location for an osprey nest built in a dead tree snag. However, with
all of the foliage we encountered seeing a nest at this location
wasn't to be. We are hoping someone in the Brooklyn area who
is familiar with this location will come foward with more
information and possibly photos of this osprey nest so that it can be
counted as an active nest for 2008 and shown on the 2008 Sighting Map.
In addition, it would be very helpful if someone in the area could
watch this nest and provide ongoing observations, including band
information, nestling numbers, fledge dates, etc.
From
Brooklyn,
MI, we ventured down to the Skuse road nest near Hillsdale with the
hope of verifying the leg band number of the male at that nest and
observing the nest to see how the female is doing. When we arrived the
male was perched on the power pole where the nest had been before it
was moved in March by Consumers Energy and placed on a man-made
platform. Before we could get all of the spotting scopes and photo
equipment set up to look at his legs he flew to a tree several hundred
yards away and stayed there. So much for that part of the plan! The
female was low in the nest indicating she was brooding. By now
her eggs may well have hatched. Another trip will be made in the future
to
observe and photograph the chicks and to possibly read the males green
hack
band number.
The latest version of the 2008 Sighting Map is included in this update.
As
always if you see an osprey or find a new osprey nest we would very
much like to hear about it. You can call 810-629-0378 or send an email
to osprey@owsem.org and someone will take your report and respond. We
need and greatly appreciate your help!
| May 27
Within
the past two weeks, two more interesting osprey sightings have been
reported. The first is from St. Clair where an osprey was observed
taking a fish from a private pond on may 20th. A second sighting came from a
fisherman on Evans Lake, West of Clinton, MI. a few days later. He spotted an osprey
flying North over the Northeast part of the lake. Both of these reports
have been added to the "Sighting Map".
An active nest symbol has
been added on the "Sighting Map" for Pte. Mouilee, where the nest in
the lead unit was reported to have a pair of ospreys who seem to
be brooding. In addition, a report of an active osprey nest South
of Sterling State Park, on "the Ford" property has been added to the
"Sighting Map". No nesting ospreys have been reported at Sterling State
Park this season.
Observations, beginning May 23rd, and
continuing over the past several days have confirmed hatchlings in
both of the Kensington Metropark nests. While no chicks have been
observed, feeding actitity is ongoing and frequent.
The
"Sighting Map" now shows a total of 11 active osprey nests in Southeast
Michigan, with hopefully, a few more to be discovered during the next
two months, before the chicks fledge.
| May 12
Two more osprey nests have been confirmed to be active.
OWSEM
member Mike Byrnes has been able to confirm that both C37 and mate are
engaged in brooding activity at the Lake Nepessing nest. It took Mike
several observation trips to finally see that the female was indeed
hunkered down on the nest. While he was watching her shift positions,
C37 flew in so he also saw both birds. The blue observation pin on the
sighting map has been replaced with a Red X, signifying an active nest.
Lori
Sargent, of the Michigan DNR, has reported that the cell tower nest at
Ranger Rd., North of Lansing is again active. The sighting map has been
updated with a Red X for this nest also.
With the addition of
the above active nest confirmations, there are now nine, confirmed,
active nests in Southeast Michigan. We are still awaiting reports from
Pte. Mouilee, Sterling State Park and other nests in the downriver area
or other areas of Southeast Michigan.
Ann Arbor and Ypislanti
birders are encouraged to look for osprey nests in their neighborhood.
Nests are most likely in the top of cell towers (look for
sticks on the upper catwalk) or a dead snag near the Huron River,
either on the bank or on an island in the river. If there is a cell
tower in your neighborhood or on your way to work, check it out closely
the next time you are out walking or driving to work or for errands.
Thanks
to all who continue to send in reports and/or photos of osprey they are
observing. You know who you are and OWSEM very much appreciates your
contributions. We hope more people will become involved.
| May 6
We have more osprey sightings to report!
Several
reports of ospreys in Macomb county came in during the later days of
April. All of them from an area Northeast of Stony Creek Metropark.
OWSEM member Martha Wolfe is the first person to discover the
newest nest to be reported this nesting season. She found it in a cell
tower on Inwood Rd., West of Mound Rd. Photos from Martha and others of
this newest nest are featured in the latest photo album.
Another
osprey, seen fishing, was reported by Kristen Owen. This sighting
was at a pond on Lahring Rd. Northwest of the town of Linden.
All sightings that have been received to date have been added to the latest sighting map.
More reports on the nests at Lake Nepessing Rd., Pte. Mouillee,
Rockwood, and Sterling State park are needed! Please help if you live near one of those areas.
| April 20
Three
more osprey sightings have been reported since the last update. A pair
of ospreys has been reported near the Fermi Power Plant, North of
Monroe. Another osprey was reported in the Ypsilanti area by a
UMICH birder. This raises the sighting total in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti
area to three. The third osprey reported came from
the Brighton area. These reports have been added to the sighting
map.
More reports on the nests at Lake Nepessing Rd., Pte. Mouillee,
Rockwood, Sterling State park, and others yet to be discovered, are needed!
Keep those reports coming in; that's the way new birds and nests will be found.
| April 11
A
trip to Milford this afternoon, before the thunderstorms hit, allowed
the confirmation of both the male and female at the cell tower nest
North of town. The female spent most of the visit in the nest, sitting
low, but moving around and preening. The male brought in two fish
during the 2+ hours of observing and photographing. As the equipment
was being taken down and packed, a lady from an adjacent town house
complex stopped to chat and revealed that the female had arrived at
least 5 days ago, and she may have been back a few days before that.
The
Milford male has a black band on his right leg and a silver US Fish and
Wildlife band on his left. These are the same band colors seen last
season. Once again, the challenge for this summer is to read the
information on that black band. Who will be the first to solve this
mystery? With that information in hand, we will be able to determine
the origins of this bird.
With the addition of the Milford nest,
there are now 6 confirmed nests in the Southeast Michigan area, with
more to follow hopefully, including Lake Nepessing Rd. Pte. Mouillee,
Rockwood, Sterling State park, and others yet to be discovered.
| April 9
There are more returning ospreys and ospreys sightings to report!
C37
has returned to the Lake Nepessing Rd. cell tower nest. He was seen and
photographed there on Saturday, Aprit 5th in the late morning. So far,
no signs of his mate, but it is still early. The folks at ZF Lemforder
are now watching and looking for two ospreys on the tower, signalling
the return of the other bird.
Several reports have come in
regarding seeing two ospreys on the cell tower nest along Old US 23,
South of Lee Road, behind the ACME building materials business. This
pair has yet to be confirmed to be C22 and mate, but the odds on that are very good.
Just
this morning, an email arrived announcing the return of the Skuse Rd.
osprey pair, Southeast of Hillsdale. If you've seen the April 1st
photo album, this is the nest that was sucessfully moved from a power
pole intact onto a new pole, placed by Consumers Energy, just for this
osprey pair. They were reported to be on the new pole/nest platform.
The male of this pair is thought to be C35, one of the released ospreys from the Kensington hacking program.
Finally,
two separate osprey reports have been posted on the UMICH birders list.
One was sighted near the ARB and Riverview drive and the other,
carrying a fish (koi) at the intersection of Superior and the Huron
river. Once again, Ann Arbor birders have an opportunity to help locate
the osprey nest that has to be in the Ann Arbor area. Each year,
numerous sighting reports come in from that area all summer long. The
nest is there, yet to be discovered!
More reports from the down river area are needed, especially the nests at Sterling State Park, Rockwood and Pte. Mouillee.
The sighting map has been
updated again. It now shows the confirmed nests and the addtional
sightings that have come along since the last version was posted.
| April 4
Within
the past few days, the Southeast Michigan osprey population has
exploded! On April 2nd, a male osprey was sighted coming into the cell
tower nest South of Lee Rd. (South of Brighton) with a stick and then
immediately left. No bands were seen, however, this is probably C22,
who nested there in past seasons. Next,
the Wildwing Lake nest was visited. No ospreys were seen, but stafff
at the Kensignton Nature Center reported seeing an osprey on that nest platform
earlier that morning.
On the same day, a pair of ospreys were sighted on the Kensington
Metropark nest that is near the East toll booth. Again, no bands have
been verified, but this is probably the pair that nested at this
location last summer. An osprey was also sighted on the cell tower
North of Milford, as well as a pair of ospreys in Highland on that cell
tower nest. We have confirmed that the Highland nest female is the same
bird as last summer, so the male is probably C42, although, the numbers
on the green hacking band were not read.
A return visit to the
Wildwing Lake nest on April 3rd yielded sightings and photographs of
C09 and his mate from prevoius years. They are back for their 7th
nesting season. Photos of this nest, the East toll booth nest, and the
Highland nest will be added to the photo section as soon as time
permits.
We haven't heard about any returning ospreys to the
Lake Nepessing Rd. cell tower nest nor the nest on Skuse Rd. Southeast
of Hillsdale. If anyone knows of returning ospreys at these two
locations, please let us know. Also, if you see an osprey building a
nest anywhere that hasn't already been reported, please take the time
to let us know. Please supply as many details as you can, including
photographs if you can obtain them. GPS coordinates are also very
helpful!
| March 29
Jerry
Jourdan reports seeing an osprey roosting on the nest platform in the
middle of the Lead Unit at Pt. Mouillee. He didn't see any bands, but
that doesn't mean this osprey didn't have any. Sometimes bands are very
hard to see from a long distance.
Thanks for your report, Jerry.
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March 26
The
first osprey of the season has been spotted at Kensington Metropark. It
was reported via the UMICH birders group posting by Jeff Fisher,
(thanks Jeff) who saw an osprey flying up and down the Huron river near the Buno Rd.
bridge, South of the Farm Center. This osprey was also seen sitting on
the nest platform later the same day by Mary Bogush (thanks Mary) of the Kensington
Nature Center staff. Mary reports that their log from last year also
shows
the first osprey spotted at the park was on March 28th. With some luck
and warmer weather, we should be seeing many more returning ospreys in
the next few weeks.
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Please help us keep
tabs on Southeast Michigan's ospreys. If you see an osprey, we
encourage you to report the sighting to OWSEM by email at osprey@owsem.org or
by phone to 810-629-0378.
Please note the date, time and location of
the sighting and any identifying features, for example leg bands or
missing flight feathers. Ospreys may be wearing one or several bands on
their legs. The US Fish & Wildlife band is silver metal and
could be on either leg, depending on when it was banded and by whom.
The numbers on these bands are very small and will probably be
difficult, if not impossible, to read even with a good spotting scope.
Colored plastic bands may also be present, in addition to the
USF&W band, on one or both legs. There may be one, two or even
three of these colored bands. Note the color and location of the bands,
for example "right leg USF&W band with green band above, and
left leg with blue band on bottom and red band on top". Birds that were
released as part of the Osprey Reintroduction Program of Southern
Michigan will have the USF&W band on the right leg and a bright
green metal band on the left. This green band will have very large
white text and should be easy to read (for example "C22"). We are
particularly interested in sightings of the hacked birds as it helps to
determine the success of the reintroduction project.
Thank you for your
cooperation!
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