Port Lincoln, Australia is pretty but that is not what I am referring to. Just look at these gorgeous babes in the nest on the Port Lincoln barge. Stunning.
That is definitely a great portrait to go on a fridge magnet. It is as if the owners were standing on the barge asking the trio to turn around and – click! I think I could stare at these three all day. Did I say for the 500th time that this has been an amazing season on the PLO nest? I hope so because it certainly has.
These three are so close together that when one of them does something, another wants to try it or out do the others. And that is what happened on the morning of 2 November in Australia. It was a flapping extravaganza!
I can do that, too!
Watch me again!
They are very entertaining and yet there is this air of cooperation on this nest that is quite astounding given its past history. For those of you that do not know the Port Lincoln nest, its history is one of siblicide with often only one fledging. Last year there were two with one death. So if these three fledge – which there is no reason they won’t – it is a first for this nest. It also goes to show us that the events on a nest cannot always be predicted by the past. I am so very happy for them. These parents worked together brilliantly.
They are 49 days old for Big and Middle Bob and 47 days old for Little Bob. These three are just itching to fly and that nest is getting a wee bit crowded. The ages are interesting. In the UK, the norm is for Western Osprey nestlings to be ringed around the 35th day of hatching and never after the 42nd because it could cause them to prematurely fledge. The Eastern Ospreys which are also not migratory might have different dates after hatch. From the information on the Port Lincoln streaming cam, it appears that Solly, the first to hatch and the female with the sat-pak was 65 days when she took her first flight. Whew! That means we have a little more time with these gorgeous birds.
The first fish delivery of the day arrives at 09:21. There were at least seven yesterday. Here they are lined up eating, waiting their turn. Bliss. Sheer bliss.
Thank you so much for joining me and thanks to Port Lincoln Ospreys for their streaming cam where I took my screen shots and video clips. They are doing an amazing job. If you want to watch this trio, here is the link to the streaming cam.
See you soon!