05/28/09 Earlier in the day it was sunny, warm and breezy. Later in the afternoon scattered thunderstorms moved into the area. Why yes, it did cloud up on my way to the nest. :-)
The Osprey family appears to be doing fine. All three chicks can be seen. The older two are easier to see at or above the top of the nest. The third chick can be seen but like the others last week is not easy to view due to the height of the nest.
The mother duck brought her babies over by the boat launch. the water is really high and rough and dirty looking. The Female hopped up on the dock to rest and preen. The ducklings tried getting up on the other side and couldn't so they swam around to the other 'other' side. While the other ducklings looked on, this little guy decided to give it a try. He didn't make it, but what's important is that he tried.
The mother duck hopped down and took her gang to some nearby rocks.
Mary Mac supervising the food on the grill. She assisted in the putting together of said grill. You can see her contribution as she is sitting on the instructions.
05-20-09
Brooding continues by the female Osprey (Ma) - even better is the TLC provided by the male Osprey (Pops). Aside from providing fish for the chick(s) the male also has the duty to provide food for his mate. Pops three times during my visit - delivered fish to the nest. Feeding Ma and the chick(s).
I think there are two chicks based on how the Adults placed their heads in the nest bowl to feed. We'll know for sure soon enough :-)
Also saw some Osprey poop fly over the side of the nest. A chick doing it's duty to keep the nest clean. ;-)
The male watched the nest and the female flew around a bit and brought a stick back to the nest. She adjusted accordingly.
-- Additional entertainment by the Male Osprey and a Starlings nest -- more on that later.
the song- Southern Cross- Jimmy Buffett
When you see the Southern Cross for the first time- You understand now why you came this way
Crux Australis, The Cross, The Southern Cross
Bradenton Beach, Florida - taken in the evening before a storm rolled in.
Thursday while checking on my Osprey's I noticed coming down the middle of the Potomac river a Female Wood duck and her ducklings.
As many know we've had 9 days of rain and at times heavy rain. Water levels are very high, currents swift and lots of debris in the water. I starting watching her when she was about a half mile away.
She would swim with her babies around her - then stop. Swim then stop. Then I saw the wee duckling that couldn't keep up. The wee duckling tried and tried but apparently was too tired to stay up with it's family.
So Mama would stop and let the little one catch up. There were a few times I thought she might leave it as they were all vulnerable out there- in the middle of the Potomac. But to her credit she stopped numerous times. Once in a while one of the other wee ducklings would visit the duckling that couldn't keep up, then go racing back to the others.
Also I couldn't understand why she would be swimming down the middle. I don't know anything about currents and such, but thought if she were along the shore line they could all rest.
After getting by the marina boat launch area - she waited one last time for the wee duckling then they all swam to the shoreline- to rest and to continue making there way to their destination.
While i wish the light was better - you gotta work with what you have but I since it's Mothers Day I felt the story very fitting.
Happy Mothers day ~
