Our Osprey Friends
Respect. Or as Aretha Franklin sings…R-E-S-P-E-C-T. After living under the Osprey nests for many years that is what I have developed for these dedicated birds. Respect. The Lewis-Clark Valley, where I live, is at the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers. We are the spring and summer home to the Osprey from the months of April through September. We get to witness the return of the mated pairs then watch them rebuild and fluff up their nests. For five to six weeks, we watch and wait with them as they take turns nesting on their eggs. If they are successful parents, they will hatch one to two eggs. Now their real work begins…feeding the nestlings! At any time of day, we see them hover high above the river, soaring back and forth searching for an available meal. Once they spot a fish, they swoop down plunging their talons into the water and capture their prey. With wings flapping as they rise upward, they carry their fish head first and navigate home to the nest. The Osprey pair will feed their chicks for about one hundred days.
We are fortunate to have dozens of Osprey nests up and down the river. In recent years there seems to be a sort of population explosion which has forced the young pairs to build their nests in creative spots. Along the river are man-made nesting platforms that have been occupied by the same pair for years. The younger birds must find their own digs. The optimal height of a nest is 20’ feet tall and of course must be near the river. A popular new real estate for the house hunters has become the high stadium lights at the high school football fields. I’ve seen at least 3 pairs nesting under the lights. Another daring pair has built their nest on a tall power pole next to a major bridge which is filled with auto traffic. Travelers cannot help but keep tabs on the progress of the young family as they watch for the hatchlings to pop their heads up above the twigs and branches.
Five years ago, one of our neighbors who lives along the walking path by the river built his own Osprey platform. He was hoping a pair would settle in and that he would have a front row seat to watch them from his balcony. But year after year his platform remained untouched. It may have been because the height of the platform reached 15’ which is respectable, but seemed to be too low for a nesting couple to choose it.
Two years ago, an Osprey pair had built their nest on a telephone pole near the entrance to the boat ramp at Asotin, WA. They happily raised their young and then migrated south for the winter. While they were gone, a utility company had broken down and removed their nest. In its place they nailed down a goose decoy to the top of the telephone pole. I was walking nearby when the one of the pair returned in the spring. Distress! The poor raptor was expecting to start adding to the nest he had left in the fall, and now there was no nest. The Osprey flew back and forth, back, and forth, calling out in confusion. I felt for it and wondered what he would do? Not many days later I had my answer. The Osprey had taken up residence on my neighbor’s platform and began dragging branches and twine to have the nest ready for when his mate joined him. My neighbor had his wish come true! He named the pair Bob & Betty and enjoyed following their progress until the end of summer. He has been very gracious and allowed me to snap photos of the pair from his balcony! And to all our delight, Bob and Betty have returned this spring and have added more branches and twigs as they build their permanent home.
Roy and I walk along the river path with our dog, Gizmo, and when we get near a nest the Osprey call out a plaintive warning call. When we get closer and closer, sometimes they will fly away to a nearby telephone pole and watch us carefully. Over time they accept the fact that they must share the space with humans and their dogs.
What I respect so much about the Osprey is their dedication to their young. They are ever vigilant to any danger that may come from predators who could threaten their eggs or chicks. Raccoons, bald eagles, and great horned owls are the threat. They must always supervise the nest to protect their family. The male or female does not leave the nest unprotected for more than fifteen or thirty minutes. This means that no matter the weather, an adult is always present. We have seen a parent spread their wings and cover the chicks in pouring rain as the droplets fall down its feathers and it becomes a soggy mess. And we have seen a parent in over 100-degree weather spread its wings to protect the children from the scorching and deadly heat. One year in the valley we had a heat wave of multiple 100 degree plus days in a row. The poor Osprey parents faithfully stayed at the nest trying to protect the chicks from the heat. We were so, so, very sad to see that one of the babies died from the unrelenting heat. We found its body at the foot of the platform. How sad for the parents. I know they tried the best that they could to save their child.
At 55 days the young birds are ready to fly. They begin by perching at the edge of the nest and trying out their wings. Their parents start reducing their food portions as an incentive to have them get out on their own. Two weeks after they have fledged, the young birds follow their father and he teaches them to hunt. He catches a fish and the hungry Osprey follow him. The father drops the fish by the shore to teach the young ones that the food comes from the river. Soon they will perfect their own technique. Although the young ones are learning to fish, their parents will continue to feed them for several more weeks.
When the air begins to turn crisp at the end of summer, the family must prepare to migrate to their winter home. We watch as the young birds and their parents soar through the air and practice endurance. High, high, high in the sky they fly and skim over the hills.
And then one day…they are gone! The nest is empty. The warning calls are gone, the flapping of wings as they land on the platform is gone. The pleasure we have watching their family is on pause until April comes and the nest is filled with activity again.
I welcome you to leave comments and enjoy the beauty of this area which I call home. You may follow my daily walks on Instagram at #broumleyjudy. If you would like updates on my photographic and art journey please subscribe to my monthly newsletter.
