If you read my blog regularly, you will know that I am nothing but praises for this Osprey nest on the barge at Port Lincoln, Australia. The nest has a history of siblicide and this year, for the very first time (knock on wood), the parents are going to fledge three! There will be many ideas on why this might be the case but, it seems that it could be down to the simple fact that there is only 51 hours difference between Big Bob hatching and Little Bob. Today, they are 47 and 45 days old. (Middle Bob hatched 4 hours after Big Bob).
Dad has really kept up the fish deliveries even in the worst weather with strong winds. Yesterday there were six feedings: 6:41, 8:24, 10:11, 11:19, 15:02, and the last to fill them up for night came at 19:34.
Mum has also really kept tight reigns on the trio. Despite the fact that they are capable of self-feeding and have, on a few occasions tried to snag the fish, she has maintained order. They all line up and leave one another alone. Everyone gets fed. That is food security at its best.
Little Bob is at the top right. You can see that s/he still has a crop from the feeding four hours earlier. This is a nice fish to top them up for the night. Typically, Little Bob will not take its eyes off that fish!
They are really growing. None of the trio have started hovering but they certainly are flapping their wings.
Awww. The little sweeties. They also still sleep duckling style.
They are wide awake as dawn approaches. Each taking turns stretching and wing flapping. Everyone seems to be anticipating the arrival of breakfast. Still, you can see that at least one of the birds has a crop from the late night feeding.
If you have shied away from this nest because of previous years, I urge you to take a peek. These three will fledge in about two weeks. They will then fly back and forth with the parents still feeding them until they finally leave the area. During the week of 8 November, they will be ringed, given names, and measured. One (or all – I am still trying to confirm this) will receive a satellite transmitter. So there is still excitement to come – join in.
It is a beautiful family. Here is the link:
We have had several snow showers on the Canadian prairies today. a few of the birds have ventured out to the feeders. Of course, Dyson is here vacuuming up all the seeds. No sign of Mr Blue Jay and family. I don’t blame them for not coming out. No one is really ready to think about winter!
Thank you for joining me. I will be checking on Diamond and to see if there are any updates on WBSE 27. If there are, I will let you know. Otherwise, I will see you tomorrow. Take care everyone.
Thank you to the Port Lincoln Osprey Project for their streaming cam where I took my screen captures.
Thank you Mary Ann for the great photos and updates on the Port Lincoln osprey chicks! They are the three adorables if I’ve ever seen any before! 💕💕💕
Please let us know if any news comes in on sea eaglet 27 🙏
Have a great Sunday evening !
Linda
It has been the opposite of last year. I don’t even know how to describe the change other than saying wonderful and praising the notion that the eggs hatched so close. No word on 27 yet. Diamond’s wing jury seemed to be bothering her this morning. She fed the baby a bit and then Xavier came in and fed Yarruga an entire pigeon. The little one will be full for awhile. Xavier is more than earning his name, Linda.
You take care. Glad you are enjoying the birds.