What are the chances?

[Barbara Walker]

What are the chances, I wonder, that if a male osprey was being released from rehab the day after a different adult male osprey were killed, and the female was still on the nest with eggs at or very near hatch date, that the new male would step in and help if released in that area.

 

Lost a male osprey at one of my nests this evening.  Hit by car.  It was particularly gruesome, with multiple broken bones and organ damage.  The female is there sitting, right about at hatch date, crying with no relief.  How long will she sit there and cry before abandoning the nest?  We really do have an osprey ready for release.  Is it worth trying?

 

Does it matter whether it is a male or a female?  I thought I read somewhere about 2 females raising a chick but I can no longer find the reference.

 

The swallow-tailed kites that nest behind my house started nesting building on March 15 just one day later than last year.  Two pair returned.  In past years we usually see a total of five, 2 pair and an extra bird. The hummingbird also returned.  I hope the spring residents will do well this year.  A red-shouldered hawk that lived on the horse farm behind me for 10 years, the male, was killed on the same road as the osprey. That female is still alone.  Barred owls are hit in this area as well, 3 in the last 2 years actually.  They all share habitat.  I lost a lot of birds that are close to home this year.  Gained a few too though.  I had a screech owl box up last year and bluebirds nested in it.  I took the screech owl box down and put up a proper bluebird box and this year the chickadees are nesting in that.  I put up the bluebird box again in case someone else wants to use it.  There was a pileated woodpecker on it today.  The last box I gave away, they got a pileated woodpecker too! All new native plants that attract songbirds, provide nesting opportunities and water are in my yard now, selections for biodiversity.  That should help the swallow-tailed kites really, by trying to keep the songbird population healthy.

 

The migrating ospreys have a long journey ahead of them and I hope it is a safe one.

 

Thank you,

Barb Walker

Palm Harbor, FL

[Jannice Mull]

I have seen where Hawks and Peregrine falcons have done this  and for some reason I remember something  somewhere about an Osprey doing that I do remember that it was somewhere overseas but the eggs weren't on the verge of hatching I think it was like 3 weeks into incubation.
This is my opinion and I'm sure some won't agree but if you were to release the male and something went wrong is there any way you could rescue the eggs/chicks?
 

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From: barb...@tampabay.rr.com
To: osprey-m...@googlegroups.com
Subject: What are the chances?
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:38:13 -0400

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[Rob Bierregaard]

Worth a try. I wouldn't bet on success, but I know there's a much better chance releasing the bird than not. 

Good luck.

Rob

[Barbara Walker]

We won’t know until we talk to USFWS.  I just don’t know how long she will sit there.  She’s going to be hungry in the morning.  I have sent a volunteer to pick up the male that is at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey first thing in the morning.  It’s a long trip so they won’t get back here until about 1pm. 

 

Progress Energy has these really long handled tongs that they use to get things off the power lines.  Maybe we will be allowed to deliver a fish or two using the tongs???

 

 

Thanks,

Barb Walker

Palm Harbor, FL

 

[Patti O'Brien Theroux]

Let us all know either way!

 

 

 

Patti O'Brien Theroux

Licensed Loan Originator 

Sierra Pacific Mortgage- Cape Cod

Big enough to get it done, but small enough to care.

704 Main Street Unit D

Falmouth, Ma. 02540

 

Cell  508 274-1817

Office- 774-255-1824

Fax- 774-763-2184

 

NMLS # 527986

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[Jannice Mull]

That would be awesome if they let you use the tongs, I'll cross my fingers that they do. Thanks so much for all you do barb, and keeping us updated
 

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From: barb...@tampabay.rr.com
To: osprey-m...@googlegroups.com

Subject: RE: What are the chances?

Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:08:08 -0400

[DeeDee Gollwitzer]

Hi Barbara,

 

Just curious to know what happened??  

 

Thank you,

 

DeeDee Gollwitzer

[Barbara Walker]

Hi,

 

After 5 days of trying to incubate on her own she finally got off the nest.  She still spends a lot of time there, looking pretty lonely.  I did see a new branch at the nest when she was still incubating and while she was out I saw 2 males competing over the nest.  It is getting pretty late here for mating so I don’t think this will resolve until next year. 

 

Barb Walker

Palm Harbor

 

From: osprey-m...@googlegroups.com [mailto:osprey-m...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of DeeDee Gollwitzer
Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2013 1:33 AM
To: osprey-m...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: What are the chances?

 

Hi Barbara,

[DeeDee Gollwitzer]

Thank you for the update Barbara. 

[Jannice Mull]

Well it was worth a try now next question from me is you said 2 males is one of them by chance your release guy?

 

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From: barb...@tampabay.rr.com
To: osprey-m...@googlegroups.com

Subject: RE: What are the chances?

Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2013 06:33:07 -0400

[Barbara Walker]

Yes, one of them could be but no way of telling without a band.  I have spoken to a local rehabber in this area about potentially applying for a banding permit and she said she would be willing.  I have had many ospreys in hand that were released and I wish each one of them had been banded.

 

We have had a lot of hatching this week!