Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Again with the Ospreys

I checked on the Osprey family at the Fill this past Sunday, and the youngsters are very close to fledging -- not flying yet, but flapping their wings vigorously and occasionally getting up in the air in little hops.  They will probably be flying by this coming Sunday -- when I won't be able to see them due to an all-day outing.  Rats!

It was a nice sunny day, great for photos.  Lots of fellow birders were there -- a fun outing all round.  Here are the photos and a short video.

Mother on left, two kids on right -- my, how they've grown!


Youngster stretching its wings


Flapping and hopping



One my birder friends taking  photos


A video of vigorous flapping action:


6 comments:

  1. Those little guys aren't so little anymore! Once they do fly will they be off on their own or will they hang around mom & dad for awhile?

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    1. They usually hang out for a couple of weeks perfecting their ability to fly and to catch their own fish. Then they will head off on migration (separately from adults) to Central/South America.

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    2. Oh cool. I don't suppose they return to where they were born eventually. That would be too much to ask. It's nice that you got this opportunity to observe them from "start to finish" as it were.

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    3. The parents will return to that spot but probably not the kids. It's been tons'o'fun to watch.

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  2. Call me mad Alex, I thought there were 3 chicks that hatched. Rather than go back in posts I thought I'd ask you.

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    1. Yes, three hatched and all three have grown up. The first photo shows the mother and two youngsters; the three birds in the other photos are all youngsters. They are so big now, it is sometimes hard to tell them apart from the adults.

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