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1335 MDT

A ground observer has spotted an Osprey eating a fish near the nest box. Probably our Male. I haven't been able to catch an image yet. - EnMax has been shutting down my reception after 5 minutes. I hope they stop that once the O's are back. It is maddening!!! I can[t watch for several hours this afternoon so if anyone has the time, please keep an eye out for the O.

The ice has broken up on the river so our O's will now be able to catch their fish - of course there is always the Koi pond. I doubt if it is allowed to freeze.

Saturday April 16

0800 - 10:44 MDT

They are both home


Dad flew on to the nest followed immediately by Mom. He watched her arrival with wings spread and fluttering. Then turned to look towards the ground. He moved to the front corner of the nest box, looking down and arching his shoulders as if in warning. I am assuming he was chittering away at the geese. A small flotilla cruised down river a few minutes later - too big for ducks.

Dad flew up and over - landing on Mom's back. He did not try to mate - it was more of a touch and go landing - maybe to say "your mine"

They have both been on and off the nest several times since then. Once he brought in a fish and though Mom tried to get a share, he avoided sharing with her, kept moving around the wood edge of the box. Now he has started bringing in sticks. They can't be easy to find with the snow on the ground

The season has begun!

11:45am MDT

Dad has been busy bringing in sticks. He keeps trying to put them on the perimeter - up on the box edge and they fall to the ground. Mom had not been visible for a bit. She landed on the nest on one of the big sticks in the middle. Dad came flying in and set up guard action on the box edge. Intruder must have gone on his way as Dad relaxed. He and Mom standing close together give an opportunity to compare. It seems to me Mom has a little more dark area on her chest this year - maturity?- but they still are going to be very difficult to determine which is which. Head markings almost identical.

1220 MDT

Here is an image of Dad and his "building the perimeter" This stick is swinging in the breeze, barely hanging on as I type

Wasting no time here

Also, great team work, notice the female is bringing in sticks

http://youtu.be/Jf3EdqfoKEw

JAZZEL

Enjoyed your video, Jazzel; thank you. Looks like they are off to the races, for sure.

2:16 pm,
Both at home; watching the territory and each other.


2:27 pm,
Both have left the nest. Believe it was Mom that just took off. See some weather, flurries or sleet.

2:28 pm,
Mom's back with a branch.

2:29 pm,
Mom made an exit left.

1730

Great video Jazz Dad is a busy boy - very experienced - in more ways than one

Glad you noted that Mom brought in a stick. Last year, her maiden year, she just stood around watching and waiting to be waited on. She turned out to be a great Mom despite her slow start.

Great captures of the osprey pair BET, CAL and JAZZEL
I'm happy to see them back but this Spring weather has got to go ! It's been brutally cold.

I'm going to try to fit time in to watch this camera which could be a challenge with all our HWF eagle cams hatching chicks lately

ETA: BET I was just looking at the pictures you posted of the bridge in the distance when they tested the camera. That is a railway bridge which is almost directly east of the nest. The river starts heading south as soon as it passes the bridge.

6:13 pm
Someone is home. I'm going to have to try to remember who is who.