Osprey - Maryland / Chesapeake Bay

[GCG]

Over 1000 followers of this site voted on names for the wayward osprey and unanimously selected the name "ET". The two resident chicks are preening and likely awaiting a breakfast delivery.

[GCG]

Tom just flew in with a large fish. Breakfast is served!

[GCG]

When I looked at the nest, the two chicks were alone, one wingersicing. In flew "ET", followed by Audrey! They seem to be looking for a breakfast delivery from Tom.

[GCG]

Currently the residents of this family are enjoying breakfast.

[GCG]

Thought I would share a photo (from FB) of the nest, including the one posters have nicknamed ET.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/s480x480/11751724_720704618056838_4328160877931592740_n.jpg?oh=1a612618ae83a653ec210a19d17196f6&oe=56575073

[GCG]

All three chicks are in the nest and two on the edge. Fledge time is near. The visitor is there so often, they have posted some suggested names and are asking for people's choices. 

[GCG]

I read this on the osprey site. The blog tells of the interloper. An interesting read. It is rather long.

https://ospreycamerablog.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/e-t-phone-home/

[GCG]

The wayward fledgling, they have named "Oliver" is in the nest with Maine and Montana. They are all splayed flat. Oliver appears winded. He/she is breathing heavily. The hospitality shown by Tom and Audrey is amazing.

[GCG]

  Tom and Audrey are definitely good parents, their own and others.

[susha]

He/she is in camera range now.  It's amazing how it just makes itself right at home, often eating the meals that the parents bring.   

[GCG]

In the last week, there has been a wayward fledgling visiting this nest. FB posts say it remains nearby just out of camera range. Audrey and Tom once again prove they can care for any and all osprey.

[GCG]

Yesterday, the two foster chicks, Maine and Montana were banded. This video shows their return to the nest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCTPw51VY8o&feature=youtu.be

[GCG]

http://aqua.org/blog/2015/april/introducing-the-osprey-cam

This link is to the nest where the chick was euthanized. I should have started a new topic. This nest is in Maryland as well. The two foster chicks are well. Sorry!

[Kinderchick]

Aww! Very sad to hear that one of the chicks needed to be euthanized due to an injury.

[GCG]

So sad!   I just read this on the osprey FB link.

http://aqua.org/blog/2015/april/introducing-the-osprey-cam

This is the correct link to this Maryland opspey cam they are speaking about in this post. Not the foster chicks'

Chesapeake Bay Field Office



Yesterday, 7/7/15, our biologists attempted to put a GPS satellite transmitter on one of the adult ospreys at Masonville Cove. Unfortunately while doing this the biologists noticed something peculiar with the right wing of one of the chicks. They took the injured osprey chick to the Maryland Zoo Medical Center where the veterinarian determined that the growth plate of the bone joint had irreparable damage.


Raising ospreys in captivity under normal conditions is very difficult. An amputated portion of the wing would make it nearly impossible for this bird to live a healthy life. Sadly, the most humane decision was to euthanize the chick. This type of injury is not uncommon and has been observed at times at other osprey nests. The rest of the ospreys are all healthy and the other two chicks may fledge any day now.