ENMAX & CALGARY ZOO OSPREY CAM and BOW RIVER AREA REPORTS

For over 18 years osprey have been returning to build a summer home at the east end of the Calgary Zoo on St. George's Island.


This has been a very successful nest over the years. Tragically in 2012 Dad osprey went missing in a devastating hailstorm. Mom managed to raise her three young and all successfully fledged. Will she return ? Will she find a new mate ? The waiting begins.

The camera is owned and operated by Enmax Energy in conjunction with the Calgary Zoo.

Follow the camera __________ http://www.enmax.com/Energy/Res/Greenma ... Camera.htm

Enmax Energy Facebook page _____________ https://www.facebook.com/Enmaxenergy?ref=ts&fref=ts

Calgary Zoo Facebook page ________________ http://www.calgaryzoo.ab.ca/

Looking for last year's observations ? You can find them here forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=419505 in the archives.

We also welcome "ground observer" photos and reports about this nest and other nests along the Bow River .

TIMELINE


Calgary Osprey 2006
3 chicks hatched. The youngest died when he was a few days old after a terrible hailstorm.
2 remaining chicks fledged.

Calgary Osprey 2007
Camera was damaged by lightning and did not stream.

Calgary Osprey 2008
3 chicks - all fledged

Calgary Osprey 2009
3 chicks -- all fledged

Calgary Osprey 2010
3 eggs laid. One egg failed to hatch.
2 chicks - both fledged.
Archive: forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=45415

Calgary Osprey 2011
3 chicks -- all fledged.
Archive: forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=175415

Calgary Osprey 2012
3 chicks -- all fledged
Dad osprey disappeared in a hailstorm Aug 12, 2012. Mom raised her chicks alone until they successfully fledged.
Archive: forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=342604

Calgary Osprey 2013
April 24 -- Mom arrives home with a new mate.
May 6 -- First egg laid.
May 8 -- Second egg laid
May 11 -- Third egg laid

First hatch: June 14 -- 10:45 a.m.
Second hatch: June 15 -- before 6:20 a.m.
Third hatch: June 17 --

During June the camera was turned off after a devastating flood in Calgary.
Events of fledging are witnessed by visitors to the area.

Aug 10 -- one chick fledged -- witnessed by Michelle.

keeping space in reserve if we need it.

9:00 am Monday April 15

THe cam is up!

All is in deep freeze! Not even a Canada Goose in sight.


I would not want to be out there on the island either

12:30pm MDT

I have had the cam up all morning. It makes me think of a line from an old song (can't remember the name of the song or author) "All day I face the frozen waste without the taste of water - cool cool water" Now why I can recall that phrase I have no idea.

So far I have seen two lumps (ducks?) floating on the water near the tip of the sandbar - A fly by (Canada Goose maybe) and three visits by the magpies.

2:50pm

They have adjusted the camera so we now have a normal color view. Our pair of Canadas - probably the same pair as last year - are hanging out at the shore line underneath the nest box - the same area as last year

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17

10:52 am
It is still cold in Calgary and no sign that anyone has visited the nest.


I am really wondering if Mom will bother returning this year after being both "Mom and Dad" to her chicks last season ? It would be lovely to see her with a new mate but I also wouldn't blame her if she takes a year off from nesting.

Hi Judy!

I have had the video recorder on all day every day since the cam has been up. Nothing but magpies has visited the nest box.

There are two pair of Canadas working the shore line - and giving chase to each other. One pair looking like they are nesting in the area under the view of the nest box like last year and the other pair a bit further upriver.

That's it. Mom O arrived April 15 last year and April 16 in 2011. And looking at my records, 2010 the first year she was the reigning lady, she arrived April 27 two days after a snow fall. Considering the weather that Colorado and Montana and the Pacific North West have been experiencing the last couple of weeks, Mom's flight could be slower than the two previous years

Wait and drink or and watch is all we can do