Dunedin Osprey Cam Nesting Notes

2009-03-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

There appears to be only one fledgling but he/she is up jumping around and flapping wings. He obviously is exercising getting ready for that first flight!

first fledgling...

2009-03-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

The first fledgling is up is very active!!!! He/she is spreading wings and is quite vocal. The parents are busy feeding and of course we all are anxious to see when #2 and #3 appear.

What a shame the camera is not operational, but next year this time we should be seeing the whole process.....

So What Does An Osprey Sound Like?

2009-01-14T11:26:00.000-08:00

Of all of the raptors, Ospreys have a very unique and unmistakable sound that one can hear just about anywhere in Florida. Osprey's have several different vocals, each with a very direct and distinctive purpose. Whether it is calling to it's mate, youngster, or warning us to step back from it's nest, it is without a doubt one of the favorites amongst bird lovers.

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Click Here To Listen To The Sounds Of An Osprey
(MP3 Format - :22 - 356KB)
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Robert La Follette
blog.robertlafollette.com

What's In A Name?

2009-01-09T07:49:00.000-08:00

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) whose species name is derived from the Greek ‘hals’ (salt or sea) and ‘aetos’ (eagle) is the only bird of prey that feeds exclusively on live fish. It is also commonly referred to as the "Sea Hawk" or "Fish Hawk". Cool!

(Osprey Eating A Fish)

(Osprey Carrying A Fish)

Robert La Follette
blog.robertlafollette.com

Incredible Talons

2009-01-08T07:41:00.000-08:00

Osprey have an unique talent when it comes to finding a meal. They are skilled hunters, and since their diet consists of only fish, they have an ingenious way of securing their prey. The talons of the Osprey are reversible, and the scales on their feet act like barbs to help secure the fish, and they can rotate their catch in their talons in flight to reduce the drag so that they can lift from the surface and fly faster. This is to avoid the scavengers that will often follow the Osprey, usually high above them and then swoop in to try to steal their dinner.

(Osprey eating a fish in a Slash Pine)

(Osprey carrying a fish back to it's nest)

Robert La Follette
blog.robertlafollette.com

Did You Know?

2009-01-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

Do you know how to tell a male Osprey from a female Osprey? The easiest way to identify a male or a female is the by observing the feathers on their chest. Female Ospreys have soft brown feathers that go across their chest, and are often referred to as their "necklace". Male Osprey's lack these brown feathers as their chest is completely white.

(Male Osprey)

(Female Osprey)

Robert La Follette
blog.robertlafollette.com

Sitting On The Nest

2009-01-01T22:06:00.000-08:00

Without a doubt things are picking up. One of the adults are now constantly sitting on the nest, and both adults now take turns sitting on the nest. This is a sure sign that they have eggs as they have also been observed turing them in the nest. Both adults seem very content and pay absolutely no attention to all the commotion below from the many golfers who also seem to enjoy their company.

(Female Osprey Taking A Break On A Light Pole)

(Male Osprey Going Off In Search Of Some Dinner)

Robert La Follette
blog.robertlafollette.com

Ospreys Are Getting Frisky

2008-12-31T16:13:00.000-08:00

The new year is looking good for the pair of Ospreys that have now settled into the new nest. For the past week now, the female Osprey has been sitting on the nest, while the male has been spotted nearby. The pair seem to really like their new home, and even have been observed sitting on the "perch" that houses the camera. Seems like they don't mind at all!

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Click Here To Learn More About Ospreys
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Almost all of the other nests in the area along the coastline in Duendin, as well as the nests in the vicinity of Curlew and Alt. 19 is getting very busy with lost of nest building and aerial displays high above. It is shaping up to be a very good start to the new year for Dunedin's Osprey population.

Robert La Follette
blog.robertlafollette.com

More activity at the nest

2008-12-11T07:02:00.000-08:00

Thursday - 12/11/08

Both Ospreys have been seen at and on the nest on a regular basis over the past several days.

Osprey accepts the installation of camera

2008-12-08T09:45:00.000-08:00

12/6/08

The day after installation, the Osprey seems comfortable with the installation of camera and perching post. By the way, the Parks Dept. used an old broom handle for the perching post.

A perfect location at the golf course right off the Pinellas Trail

the camera is installed!!!

2008-12-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

12/4/08 Today is the day that the camera is installed. As you can see, it is not very big. One nice feature is that it will enable people to observe the nest at night too.

The Dunedin Parks Division and the Dunedin IT Division did a great job installing camera. The male Osprey watched over the installation from a near-by post.

Art Finn, Parks Superintendent, and Matt Creighton discuss installation of the camera.

Matthew Creighton of the Dunedin Parks Division is installing the camera so it is focused on the nest.

2008-11-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

Sunday, 11/16/08 - Barbara Walker and Jeanne Murphy, Pinellas County Biologist, see two Ospreys on nest, at 11:30 a.m.

Installation of new pole

2008-11-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

Fri. 11/7/08 - Paul Sylvester, golf course manager, saw TWO Ospreys on new platform. This is great news! They seem to have accepted the nest relocation.

Wed. 11/5/08 - Osprey sitting on light pole where nest used to be. Sure hope they don't want to start building nest back where it used to be.

Mon. 11/3/08 - An Osprey sat on new platform all morning.

Sat. 11/1/08 - Osprey seen on new platform! Cannot tell whether it is male or female.

Wed. 10/29/08 -

This is the old Osprey nest that was established some years ago on the light pole next to the practice putting green next at St. Andrews Links Golf Course in Dunedin.

Monk parrots had also nested in the bottom of the nest. This is dangerous for Ospreys because diseases and parasites can be spread to them: that is why it was decided to move the nest to a new pole.

Progress Energy installs new pole and platform.

Workman removes nesting materials from light pole where Ospreys had originally build nest.

The workman adds old nesting materials to new platform. The question now is, will the accept the new location and not start rebuilding at old site.

Welcome

2008-11-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the blog section of the Dunedin Osprey Cam website. We will record observations and findings here.

The Osprey is sitting on a perch just behind the camera that is pointed directly into the nest