I'm happy to report the eaglets survived the April storms. As have eagles, osprey populations have increased due to manmade nesting sites and other conservation efforts.
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At the beginning of the mating season pesky intruder males, referred to as 'floaters', can be bothersome. This pair is keeping an eye on all that fly over their nest!
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The Ospreys have migrated from their South American wintering grounds and are arriving in their North American breeding nests. If you know of any Osprey nests in Scarborough which I can access, it will be my pleasure to provide photos. I'm happy to report eagle pair Rick and Ilsa have youngster(s) in the nest which have thus far survived the brutal April storms which devastated last year's nest.
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You'll be happy to know after last year's failed nest, eagle pair Rick and Ilsa appear to have eggs in their new nest.
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Date of Photograph
Marc notes that he has been photographing an Osprey pair nesting in South Portland since they arrived in Maine mid-April.
They raised two youngsters…one male, one female.
This is a photo of the juvenile male and in the next week or soon he will instinctively begin his migratory journey to South America possibly as far as the Amazon Basin of Brazil.
Unfortunately the chance of survival on a first migration is only 20-30%.
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Date of Photograph
Since the adult osprey arrived mid-April, I've been patiently waiting to capture a flight of the young away from the nest…it will happen soon!
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South Portland's ospreys Oscar and Odette (on the left) have youngsters in the nest which I've yet to see, but I can tell they are there by the birds behavior.
"Oscar & Odette, can I get a side-by-side photo of you as the proud parents."
Odette likes the camera, Oscar not so much.
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Here's a close up of osprey talons…the most versatile raptor feet in the world!
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As a result of the damage to their nest after the April rainstorm, a new home is being constructed nearby and this photo shows work is in progress.
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Today I found Ilsa on a favorite dead tree perch which was chosen no doubt because it provides an unobstructed 360 degree view her territory.
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Ospreys and Eagles have the same number of tail feathers which I determined by my photos then verified.
Despite the often-repeated myth about the Morgan dollar, the bald eagle does not have seven tail feathers. Nor does it have an odd number of tail feathers. It actually has 12 tail feathers.
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Female osprey Odette always gives me the once-over when I take her photo, but she does not mind the camera and poses well!
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This is an intruder osprey attack on the South Portland nest of Oscar and Odette who are now incubating eggs. The full sequence can be seen on Marc Lausier's website
These are views of the eagle nest before and after the recent rainstorm.
I'm sad to say it's looking like Rick and Ilsa will not have any surviving eaglets in this my 7th year of photographing them.
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Date of Photograph