It’s been mostly a quiet and wet week for Ozzie and Harriet, but the sun came out about mid-day yesterday when the images here were taken.
Harriet spends most of her time alone in the nest, periodically “begging” for food and/or attention (some ornithologists call this typical behavior “soliciting”). Female osprey begging mostly is a series of about 8 to 10 short, rapid. high-pitched chirps. The birds usually don’t appear alarmed or otherwise agitated when making the calls; it’s apparently part of the pairing ritual.
Eventually, Ozzie returns to the nest from parts unknown, often with a fish offering, which Harriet may or may not pick at. He usually doesn’t stay long and sometimes Harriet appears to get bored herself and disappears for 10 or 20 minutes. There has been no sign of egg-laying yet.
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on April 27, 2023.)