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2017

ENMAX & CALGARY ZOO OSPREY CAM and BOW RIVER AREA REPORTS



For over 20 years osprey had been returning to build a summer home at the Calgary Zoo.

The Osprey can also be observed from the Canadian Wilds area at the zoo, near the musk ox enclosure, or by strolling along the Bow River pathway.



The camera is provided by ENMAX (ENMAX Corporation)

The poles and nests are owned and installed by ENMAX Power who have an invested interest in protecting the birds from the wires and the wires from the birds.

The camera -- https://www.enmax.com/community/keeping ... he-ospreys

ENMAX Energy Facebook page -- https://www.facebook.com/ENMAXcorp/

ENMAX on Twitter twitter.com/ENMAX
ENMAX Power twitter.com/ENMAXpower

Calgary Zoo Facebook page -- http://www.calgaryzoo.com/

Please keep in mind that the camera is to observe these wild birds in their natural environment. Once the birds have arrived neither ENMAX Power nor the Calgary Zoo will interfere with them or their nest.

Identification of Mom and Dad as of 2016.
Dad on the left, Mom on the right.

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.
Sorry there is no archive. HWF was at the beginning of existence and Infotech in Vancouver was providing a spot for us on their website to use as a forum.

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

Calgary Osprey 2008
3 chicks - all fledged

Calgary Osprey 2009
Osprey returned April 19th
3 chicks -- all fledged

Calgary Osprey 2010
Osprey returned April 15th
3 eggs laid. One egg failed to hatch.
2 chicks - both fledged.
Archive: forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=45415

Calgary Osprey 2011
Osprey returned April 11th
3 chicks -- all fledged.
Archive: forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=175415

Calgary Osprey 2012
Osprey returned April 10th
3 chicks -- all fledged
Dad osprey disappeared, and likely died, in a severe hailstorm Aug 12, 2012. Mom raised her chicks alone until they successfully fledged. In the hearts of her dedicated followers she is now known as Super Mom.
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 --
In June the camera was turned off after a devastating flood in Calgary.
Events of the chicks fledging were witnessed by visitors to the area.
Aug 10 -- Michelle witnessed the fledging on at least one chick while visiting the area.
Archive: forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=419505

Calgary Osprey 2014
Camera live April 16th
Osprey return from the south -- Mom arrived April 17th, Dad arrived April 20th
First Egg Laid -- May 1st before 7:00 a.m.
Second Egg Laid --- May 3rd late evening. This day Calgary had a storm with over 25cm of snow falling. Both eggs may be compromised because of the cold.
Third Egg Laid -- May 7th
TRIPLETS ---- Absolutely amazing that all three eggs hatch and on the same day.
First hatch -- June 11th in the a.m.
Second hatch-- June 11th in the a.m.
Third hatch --- June 11th in the pm
FLEDGING
First chick --- August 6th morning -- returned by 9:20 a.m.
Second chick -- August 6th -- sometime in the morning or early afternoon. He also returned to the nest.
Third chick -- August 7th
The last visit to the nest by an adult or chick was Sept 7th which was a day before it snowed. Dad was the last to leave the area but made no return visits to the nest.
Archive: forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=630396

Calgary Osprey 2015
April 14th -- Dad arrived home.
April 15th -- Mom arrived home.
April 29th -- Egg #1 laid
May 2nd.-- Egg #2 laid
May 5th -- Egg #3 laid
June 7th - First hatch @ 9:23 a.m.
June 8th - Second hatch confirmed at 7:40 a.m.
June 10th - Third hatch
August 1st - Two chick fledged today. The third is still procrastinating.
Third chick fledged sometime between Aug 6 and Aug 9th while the camera was out of service.
Archive: forum/viewtopic.php?topic=749645#749645

Calgary Osprey 2016
February 25th -- Notice from Enmax that the osprey nest is being relocated while restoration work is being done at the Zoo island.
March 4th. The pole with nest and camera still attached was moved to it's new location near the Cequel Energy Lodge.
March 11th. Gas leak discovered in the Bow River. Atco is dealing with it.
April 13th -- The osprey returned and are currently trying to build a nest in the hydro tower near the old location of their nest. Two sticks were placed in the old nest box at it's new location but it was soon abandoned in favour of the tower.
April 15th --The O's have decided to leave the tower and move to the nest box with the camera. It is our own pair who have returned.
April 19th -- Enmax turned on the camera
April 25th - First egg laid 12:15 p.m.
April 28th - Second egg laid between midnight and 6:30 a.m.
May 1st - Third egg laid before 6:00 a.m.
June 4th -- FIRST HATCH confirmed at 5:07 a.m.
June 4th -- SECOND HATCH approx 9:48 p.m.
June 6th -- THIRD HATCH approx 10:27 a.m.
FLEDGES
First fledge -- July 29th approx 9:20 a.m.
Second fledge -- July 31st at 9:13 a.m.
Third fledge.. July 31st at 9:38 a.m.
LEAVING
AUG 31st.... last day Mom was seen on the nest.
Sept 1st... last day that all three chicks were together on nest.

Calgary Osprey 2017
Unfortunately, there is City construction work being done along the river bank which may disrupt nesting -- it is a wait and see situation ...
April 10th -- Mom arrived -- along with a fish for lunch.
April 11th -- Dad arrived.
EGGS LAID
April 24 -- First Egg
April 27 -- Second Egg
April 30 -- Third Egg
HATCHES
June 4th -- First hatch -- sometime before 6:00 a.m.
June 4th -- Second hatch
June 5th -- Third hatch
FLEDGES
July 29th .. Oldest chick
July 29th .. Second chic
July 30th.. Youngest chick
DAD
July 30th .. arrived at nest at 4:35 p.m. with a wing injury.
July 31st -- arrived again and spent over 5 hours on the nest. Wing is no better. Mom kicked into gear and does the fishing now.
Aug 4th .. Dad brings the first fish to the nest since his injury.
LAST SIGHTING:
Aug 27 -- last day two of the chicks were seen on the nest.
Aug 31 -- last day Mom was seen on the nest
Sept 1 -- last day Dad was seen on the nest
Sept 2 - last chick was seen on the nest.
There were camera problems so the last few days were not streaming. Camera was shut down by Enmax on Sept. 7th.

Waiting for new season to begin...................

Here we are well into February already but I thought maybe the following news article on whirling disease in the Bow and Elbow Rivers is worth posting since it may have an impact on the amount of fish Dad and Mom are able to catch this coming season. Only time will tell how things transpire but I hope it doesn't create a food shortage.
http://globalnews.ca/news/3242284/world ... ease-cfia/

Greetings Judy - for initiating the 2017 forum, and for the synopsis of seasons past. I particularly liked the photos of Mom and Dad osprey to study their markings. I look forward to another happy, healthy, and successful season with our magnificent feathered friends. Let's hope the trout supply is plentiful and that the whirling disease doesn't affect the fish population in a big way. I think we should have about 6 weeks to wait if I recall correctly. Once again thank you and I look forward to the posts and s'caps from our fellow bird watchers this spring and summer.

Mar 29

I have received information regarding the camera. The target date to go live is April 1. The camera is the same one. EnMax will adjust the zoom/focus area at the same time as in previous years. So everything will be as before.

Here's hoping Mom and Dad O make the journey North safely.

Bet

Feeling that I haven't checked this thread in awhile and missed your posts DKY and BET. Hi to both of you.

BET, that is exciting that the cam will be turned on a bit earlier this year. It may mean a two week wait before the O's arrive but good to know the cam will be active to greet them. Hoping for their safe trip home once again.
Not sure how often I will be here to watch this season. For some reason I seem to be busier than usual but will definitely be tuning into the cam when I get a chance.

Friday March 31 at 7:40pm CDT

https://www.enmax.com/community/keeping ... he-ospreys

Saturday, April 1st
Just happened to be checking the camera this morning and at 9:22 a.m. we had a visitor.