2:02pm MDT

Mom and Dad were on alert, a rather moderate attitude - just watching. My guess it was the Osprey that has been in their territory all season as Dad did his "claim Mom" action before he flew off.

Note the two eggs in this image. They are very different in base color. One is quite white and the second is terracotta. (The light one was the first delivered) It will be interesting to note when the dark egg hatches, if the chick is the darker color that we have seen in one chick in earlier years. (Last year, that darker color chick turned out to be a male)

BET, Well, guess I'd better be going to "Osprey School"

Thanks for the info re the cherry picker .

3:15pm MDT


The O's just gave me my laugh for the day.

Mom was brooding and Dad landed on the nest. Just stood around a bit. Then Mom stood up and walked to the far nest rim where she assumed "the position". Dad immediately cooperated and landed on her shoulders.


And here the fun began. Since this is only three images, you will have to use your imagination and fill in the missing parts. Mom started rocking forward into the hunched position and back with her tail almost touching the nest - just like a teeter totter with her legs being the fulcrum and her back the slanting board.
She did this about 6 times, with Dad's wings fluttering every which way, trying to maintain his balance


Dad was slipping and sliding and ended up facing sideways trying to maintain his balance


At this point he hopped off and flew away. Mom went back to brooding.

5-14 5:00pm MDT

Mom was brooding quietly when she suddenly sat up tall. Here comes Dad


He has brought her a gift and she took no time in retrieving it from him



She drug it to the side of the nest - paused very briefly - and then took off with it leaving Dad to be guardian of the eggs

Saturday, May 15 10:30am MDT

Logged in a short while ago. Mom firmly settled on the eggs. Could not see a thing. Finally, Dad flew in and Mom stood up. Still only two eggs. There was a brief encounter of the claiming type and Dad flew off, Mom back to brooding

11:03pm MDT

Egg number three was delivered!!!

Just before 11:00am MDT Mom was brooding, but I noted she wasn't settling down well. I started watching her more closely (tiny image) Yes!! her shoulders were showing a rolling motion, front to back. I think it was about 10/15 minutes, - I hadn't looked at the clock when it started - when she suddenly stood and appeared to defecate



She then assumed a strange stance and appeared to exert a pushing effort.


For the next 3/4 minutes she hovered over the bowl as if not sure what to do. Straddling the bowl would be my best description and slowly moving around. Finally, she stepped away and HURRAY - there it is - egg number 3



About 15 minutes later, Dad flew in. They both looked at the eggs. Dad mounted Mom, not sure if mated or just a celebratory claiming!

Dad left - Mom back to brooding

BET that's wonderful news.

I've been enjoying looking through all the s'caps and notes from the week I missed.

Hi Judy

Glad to see you post. Note you caught Dad admiring his eggs!

Hope all goes well with you and yours

=============

I calculated the eggs delivery and hatch for those who want to keep track

Eggs delivered:
#1: Sunday, May 9; #2: Wednesday May12 (probably); #3: Saturday May 15

Prospective Hatch:
#1: Sunday, June 13; #2: Wednesday June16; #3: Saturday June19

The first will probably be later and the last sooner as nature seems to try to put them closer together in age. One good thing about the O chicks, they do not do a lot of sibling pecking, so number #3 won't be abused much by #1.