So when will we have eggs?

Yesterday there were some private moments between the Osprey pair, so the question becomes when will we see eggs.  It is a complicated answer.

I found this information which may be helpful

A male will land on a female’s back many times without this final contact being made. Studies have shown only 30-40% of attempts are successful. Early copulations stimulate the growth of eggs within the female’s ovary and strengthen the pair bond. The last 3 or 4 days before eggs are laid are the most critical for fertilisation.

In a successful copulation the sperm travel to the female’s oviduct. This is where the various stages of egg development occur. First, the sperm fertilises  an egg which has been produced during ovulation and already has a yolk. Then the principal coating of albumin is applied before the outer and inner shell membranes are added. These stages take about 5 hours. Next the calcareous shell forms. The background pigments are laid down. The egg stays within the uterus for about 20 hours and tiny glands excrete the streaks and patterns that result in the darker markings on the shell. Finally the egg is laid! The eggs weigh between 60 and 80g and are about the size of duck eggs. The background colour ranges from off white to pale brown, the mottling is red or dark brown. The first egg is usually the largest. Fascinating stuff!

sourece: (https://kielderospreys.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/copulation-and-laying-eggs-a-bit-of-a-biology-lesson/)

The Osprey returned for the 2018 season on March 19th, a few days earlier than in previous years.

This is the picture that confirmed the sighting...taken early in the morning on March 20th.

First of egg of the season was laid on 4/19/17 between 1 and 4 in the afternoon.

We anticipate the next egg in 2-3 days.

2017 Osprey Nesting Season

March 25, 2017 the first osprey returned to the nest (coincidentally this was the same date as last year)

Marcy 27, 2017 the mate returned.

Osprey mate for life, but after breeding the osprey go their separate ways as they migrate, only to return to the family nest, so it seems unbelievable that they can come back from South America after being apart for months, within days of each other!

What type of fish are those Osprey eating?

As we have been watching the osprey bringing in fish we've been trying to identify the species they bring in. So far we have clearly identified peanut bunker and perch. One of our osprey watchers has also seen koi (which are an ornamental  sub species of carp bred and sold for their beauty, a favorite in ponds)  Carp is a very hardy fish, tolerating more extreme temperatures than other fish. They are like the goats of the fish world, eating everything in its path, snails, plants, fish eggs and vegetation.

If you spot a different species of fish email us and we will add it to the list, or get a screenshot of it and we will try to identify.

Will eggs be coming soon?

The Ospreys have been doing more work on their nest and it's starting to come together in a bowl shape. Will we be seeing eggs in the next few days?

A nest bowl is starting to take shape.

Prove you're a good provider!

One of the ways that an Osprey pair strengthens its bond is the male going fishing for the female. When the female wants a fish she will start calling -  cheep, cheep, cheep - ever more frantically if the male doesn't fast leave enough. Eventually the male will go off, catch a fish, and return, and as he comes into his mate's view she will again start calling - cheep, cheep, cheep. After he lands on the nest, she will continue to call until he gives up the fish and she eats.

The female Osprey seems pleased with the fish that her mate brought back to the nest.

By bringing his mate fish the male is also demonstrating that he will be a good provider for the chicks when they hatch and need ever increasing amounts of fish as they grow. If the nest is successful three chicks can eat up to 60 pounds a day before they fledge.