11:36 PM
Sadly, I
have to report that the Osprey nest at Lake Barkley has come to an abrupt end
due to Great Horned Owls! It was observed on Tuesday morning that one of the
chicks was missing. Some of the KEEP (Kentucky Environmental Education
projects) volunteers went to the nest site to search the ground, thinking that
he may have fallen out of the nest. However, they found no sign of the chick.
On Wednesday morning another chick was missing. It was then that Ed Ray, KEEP
founder and director feared that a Great Horned Owl was raiding the nest. Unfortunately,
this morning the third chick was also gone.
I found
myself watching the nest cam more yesterday than before, hoping that by some
chance this little guy wouldn’t succumb to the fate of the others! Nest cams
are wonderful tools to help us see into the world of birds. It also helps us to
understand how much work and effort go into building and keeping a nest, the
time that goes into just sitting on the eggs and waiting for the hatching, and
finally the work that goes into taking care of the young, defending and
protecting the nest. Unfortunately, GHO’s are bigger and much stronger than an
Osprey. I’m afraid they wouldn’t have a chance against an Owl! I guess this is
where the down side of nest cams comes in. We have a chance to experience the
reality that sometimes occurs in the wild. I imagine this kind of thing happens
far more often than we can fathom. We are just not aware of it. I think we also
tend to humanize the birds that we watch when we are allowed such an intimate
look. I personally, am pretty upset about this, but I will accept it and get
past it!
The KEEP
nest cam has not lost a chick in nine seasons, but with GHO’s involved this
could be a recurring problem. Since this is the first season that something
like this has happened, KEEP will be working to try to find a solution to this
problem. Ed Ray posted an update on BirdKY listserve yesterday. In it he said,
“The Osprey platform is about 50 yds. From a mature oak/Hickory forest. The
platform was placed where it is, due to this pair of Ospreys attempting to nest
just above high voltage power lines. If the platform were removed, the Osprey
pair would very likely attempt to nest above the dangerous power lines again.”
Even though
this Osprey pairs nesting season is over, let’s continue to keep KEEP in our
thoughts and consider donating to them. Ed Ray also informed me that KEEP has
donated about 45 all steel platforms, designed to prevent wind damage. Most are placed mid-lake where they are
totally safe from raccoons and GHO’s are not as likely to raid. Each platform
costs about $275 for materials (the tall ones with support steel pipes) and all
were funded by donations to KEEP. KEEP donates the platforms to KDFWR (KY Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources) and the USCG (United States Coast
Guard) for installing whenever requested. KEEP donated six new platforms to
KDFWR this spring. To make a donation go to the KEEP website and click on the “donate”
button in the top left corner!
On a more
positive note, I went to Shippingport Island today to check on the Louisville Osprey
nest. I couldn’t see any chicks yet, but it seems that they do have chicks. Mom
looked to be feeding after Dad dropped off a nice sized fish!
When I first arrived I observed Dad coming back to the nest with a fish, and a third Osprey flying behind him. The third Osprey didn’t go toward the nest, but flew around awhile. Then Dad left the nest and flew around with him. It does make me wonder if there may be another Osprey nest somewhere in the area! I also observed an adult Bald Eagle twice flying around over near their nesting area.
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