2012 Osprey Blog
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September 14, 2011
Fall is quickly approaching and bringing with it short, cool days. It appears our osprey family has now left Calgary for a warmer climate.
With that in mind, this has been a very successful summer for the ospreys at the Zoo, all three eggs hatched, fledged, including little Wilbur, and honed their fishing techniques in the Bow. What an incredible story to witness via a webcam.
We hope that you've enjoyed following the osprey family's journey with ENMAX and that you'll join us again next year to follow the birds that return to this nest.
ENMAX Staff
September 9, 2011
A strange week on the Osprey nest. Friday and Saturday were what one could describe as normal with an extra chick in residence. Plenty of fish delivered for all four chicks. Both parents were delivering fish and every evening Dad showed up with a Koi.
Sunday started with strange behavior. Mom was on the nest when a juvie flew in and Mom challenged and drove the juvie off. Was it our adopted Visitor or another new juvie or a second adult female? This happened again a couple of hours later and this was an out and out fight between the juvie and adult female that lasted a couple of minutes and was quite intense - included some talons first thrusts.
At some point in time during the day I was able to identify all three of the nests chicks on the nest - so none have migrated yet. They were on the nest a lot more than usual this day. A possible theory is too much human activity on the river Sunday disturbing their feeding areas. They plus a couple of strangers took refuge on the nest. And they were all hungry as they had not caught any fish that day.
On Monday afternoon, Dad landed on the nest without a fish. Stood around for a bit and an adult female flew in. Dad went after her and drove her off the nest. Confirmation that we have had an extra female on nest. Dad would never attack Mom.
The discord continued in a lesser degree until Thursday, when things seem to settle back to the old routine.
I do not include images as who was who was just too confusing. Here is one image of the fight on Sunday between Mom and the juvie.
Avid Osprey Viewer