Manitoba Falcon Cam Forum

News, Videos & Other Webcams => Other Wildlife Cams => Raptor Cams => Topic started by: Alison on December 29, 2009, 20:09

Title: Ospreys - Minnesota / Xcel Energy
Post by: Alison on December 29, 2009, 20:09
I'm not quite sure where to post this. The ospreys are gone on migration for the winter, but late today, as darkness fell, there was a visitor to the nest -- I think perhaps a Great Horned Owl.

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/ospreysdec291a.jpg)

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/ospreysdec292a.jpg)

http://birdcam.xcelenergy.com/osprey.html
Title: Re: 2009 - Ospreys - Minnesota / Xcel Energy
Post by: allikat on December 29, 2009, 20:18
Hmmm, seems like a great hunting perch for this owl.  Lookout below!
Title: 2010 - Ospreys - Minnesota / Xcel Energy
Post by: Alison on January 09, 2010, 20:23
The Great Horned Owl visited again late today:

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/ospreysjan91a.jpg)


link to webcam: http://birdcam.xcelenergy.com/osprey.html
Title: Re: 2010 - Ospreys - Minnesota / Xcel Energy
Post by: Alison on January 18, 2010, 21:02
A pair of Great Horned Owls at the nest this evening:

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/ospreysjan181a.jpg)

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/ospreysjan182a.jpg)

If they like this nest, the ospreys may not have a nest to come back to . . .
Title: Re: 2010 - Ospreys - Minnesota / Xcel Energy
Post by: allikat on January 19, 2010, 08:43
Let's hope the owls either leave and find somewhere else to nest or let's hope the osprey's have somewhere else to nest...and not close by.
Title: Re: 2010 - Ospreys - Minnesota / Xcel Energy
Post by: Alison on January 20, 2010, 18:48
One GHO returned this evening:

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/ospreysjan201a.jpg)
Title: Re: 2010 - Ospreys - Minnesota / Xcel Energy
Post by: bcbird on February 03, 2010, 23:00
Perhaps it's due to the childhood influence of AA Milne and the "wolery," but I thought owls nested in enclosed spaces such as hollows in trees.  Would they be at all interested in a platform for nesting?
Title: Re: 2010 - Ospreys - Minnesota / Xcel Energy
Post by: Alison on February 11, 2010, 20:07
Perhaps it's due to the childhood influence of AA Milne and the "wolery," but I thought owls nested in enclosed spaces such as hollows in trees.  Would they be at all interested in a platform for nesting?

That's a really good question. I think Great Horned Owls normally prefer to nest in trees, but they do seem to like peregrine nest boxes too. I think a platform might be too much out in the open for them, but even if they only like to perch there, it would deter the ospreys from using the nest.

A couple of different GHO nests: last year, a Great Horned Owl raised an owlet in a planter in Brevard County, Florida:

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4350378760_310d25ca4d.jpg)

And in Socorro, New Mexico, a pair of GHOs raised their owlets in the fork of a tree, which had been provided with a liner. They had tried to nest their unsuccessfully the previous year.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4350368108_042af4065c_o.jpg)
Title: Re: 2010 - Ospreys - Minnesota / Xcel Energy
Post by: Alison on February 24, 2010, 20:19
A new visitor tries out the osprey nest today:

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/ospreysfeb243a.jpg)

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/ospreysfeb244a.jpg)
Title: Re: 2010 - Ospreys - Minnesota / Xcel Energy
Post by: allikat on February 24, 2010, 20:25
Oh My! 

Now that's just a little high up to nest there mama goose....that looks like a long way down if you have chicks.
Title: Re: 2010 - Ospreys - Minnesota / Xcel Energy
Post by: Alison on February 25, 2010, 18:35
And now a pair of Canada Geese at the nest -- they spent a lot of time there today, with a couple of pigeons visiting when the geese were not around. The geese usually spend time at the nest each year before the ospreys return.

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/ospreysfeb2525a.jpg)

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/wingshigh/Buckeye/Peregrines/ospreysfeb2526a.jpg)