It’s been weeks since I’ve reported on activity at the Osprey Nest. The reason is that I’ve seen no significant activity there during my regular visits. However, on Monday, I did see a dramatic event over nearby Great Cove, part of which is captured in the image below. It probably will interest those who have been following the Osprey Nest summer saga.
But first, a brief backgrounder for newcomers: The Osprey Nest is the spring and summer residence of an energetic fish hawk couple whom we’ve dubbed Ozzie and Harriet for narration ease. This year, as usual, they raised three youngsters – David, Ricky, and June – who have been flying since August. At that point, Harriet (having performed well her part of the propagation-of-the-species ritual) disappeared from the nest.
David and Ricky occasionally returned to the nest for short visits, but not June, the youngest who was born in June; she hung out there daily and was fed regularly in the nest by Ozzie. June did not seem to be trying to learn how to fish for herself. In late August, activity at the nest appeared to cease – not even short visits, at least when I was there. The home appeared to have been vacated for the year.
However, on Monday, I saw this event high over Great Cove. The immature osprey at the bottom there was flying loop-de-loops with that mature osprey. The older bird was carrying a fish and the younger one was begging loudly. It looked and sounded like June begging Ozzie for food (described in past reports), but this older bird wasn’t in the mood to share even a bite.
Yesterday, I checked Ozzie and Harriet’s high-rise home again for 15 minutes – it still appeared vacated until next spring:
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on September 16 and 18, 2024.)