Heartbreaking end to Lake Barkley’s Osprey nest

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. 

Posted in: Great Horned Owl,KEEP,Lake Barkley,Osprey,Shippingport Island

Bald Eagles, Nests and Nest Cams

I have wanted to do a blog post about Eagles for some time now, and I really want to share with everyone about the Decorah, Iowa Eagle nest cam. I have been watching it for a few weeks. They have 3 eggs and I just realized this morning that the first one is hatching! When the mother Eagle stood up you could see the little guy almost out of his shell! It was so cool! The site also has a lot of information about Eagles, as well as a link to a nice tutorial about how to tell the difference between the male and female. That way you can know which one is sitting on the eggs! It is very helpful! Here is a link to the tutorial, and here is a link to the webcam! I’m assuming the other two eggs will hatch pretty soon, so go check it out ASAP!

In regards to the Shippingport Island Bald Eagle nest, I read on the BirdKY listserve yesterday, that they were observed defending the nest against a third adult Bald Eagle. It has been reported by several sources that a third Eagle has been frequenting the area. I’m so proud of our Papa Eagle; it appears that he has finally matured. He stays nearby, relieves Mama Eagle from nest sitting, and defends the nest! I have not heard anything about babies being seen yet; we’ll keep our fingers crossed!

Bald Eagle flying over Shippingport Island

I also read on the BirdKY listserve yesterday, that the female Osprey has arrived, and they had even been observed mating. I went down there this morning and got to see both Ospreys. While I was there, they defended their nest twice against a Bald Eagle! I’m not sure if it is one of the nesting Bald Eagles or that third Bald Eagle, but every time it got close to the Ospreys nest, they would fly around yelling at it and even dove at it a few times! Pretty exciting stuff!

Osprey vs Eagle

Bald Eagle and Osprey

Osprey at Shippingport Island

Posted in: Bald Eagle,Nest Cam,Osprey,Shippingport Island

Cedar Grove Commercial Park

I went on a Beckham Bird Club field trip this week to Cedar Grove Commercial Park in Shepherdsville, KY. It was led by our own Ryan Ankeny!

It was a good trip, and we saw several different species of birds. Although, Ryan said that when he usually leads this field trip during the month of march, it is much cooler and they usually see more of the wintering birds. I suppose a lot of them may have left a little early to head back north.

I got to see my very first Savannah Sparrows!

Savannah Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

There were lots of Killdeer running around. I just happened to catch this one in flight.

Killdeer

A lot of trees are in bloom! I don't know what type this one is, but I thought it was so pretty!

This Brown Thrasher is the first one I have seen this season. He just popped in long enough for me to capture a sketchy picture, but I had to include it! I love their eyes!

Brown Thrasher

Song Sparrows aplenty, they are always fun to see and hear!

Song Sparrow

This next photo of a Field Sparrow is my favorite! I think they are so cute with their little pink beaks!

Field Sparrow

These were the only birds I got decent pictures of, but we also saw, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Bluebirds and White-Crowned Sparrows, just to name a few. All in all a good birding trip!

I also wanted to mention that our (Louisville's) male Osprey arrived to the nest on Shippingport Island around last Saturday. It seemed like he took a few days to recuperate from his long trip from South America, but I stopped by this morning and saw him carrying a few sticks to the nest. The female Osprey should be arriving any time. Last year she arrived approximately two weeks after the male.

Osprey

I would also like to give you an update on the Lake Barkley Osprey Cam sponsered by KEEP. Since my blog entry last week, the male Osprey arrived and they have been busy tidying up the nest, and were even observed mating. Once they lay an egg, the cam will be real time video, with sound! I'm really looking forward to watching them throughout the season. It will give me a glimpse of what may be happpening in our Osprey nest!

Last but not least, I want to update everyone on the Bald Eagle nest on Shippingport Island. Several times that I have been there to check on them, I have observed the mate nearby, and watched them exchange places at the nest. This is very good news, since the last two years, their attempts at nesting were unsuccessful, mainly because Papa Eagle wasn't around enough, and Mama Eagle had to leave the nest to search for food! I have heard that sometimes it takes years for Eagles to "get the hang" of nesting. Everyone keep your fingers crossed, but we just might get to have a family this year! I'll keep you updated!

Bald Eagle

Posted in: Bald Eagle,Brown Thrasher,Cedar Grove Industrial Park,Field Sparrow,KEEP,Kentucky Environmental Education Projects,Killdeer,Osprey,Savannah Sparrow,Shippingport Island,Song Sparrow

Ospreys are rebuilding

Last night was a big night for storms in our area! Unfortunately, the Ospreys lost the top portion of their nest. I'm not sure if it just sunk down or if it blew away, but it was definitely damaged. Today, they were working on the rebuild! Poor guys, they've had such a hard time this year! I'm not sure if they had laid eggs yet, but I think it's good that they are working on it, instead of just abandoning it!

This is the nest today

Speaking of abandoning! I ran into Tom and Colleen Becker, local birders from Southern Indiana, on Sunday when I went to the Clark Cabin site to check on the Eagle nest. They had just spent about 2 hours with their scope set on the nest. They reported that even though they saw an Eagle, there were no signs of activity on the nest. I'm pretty disappointed about this, as I'm sure many will be. Tom said that sometimes it may take a pair of Eagles a few try's to finally get it right. We'll just have to wait until next year! Hopefully, they will hang around the area, so we can still enjoy their beauty!

This is the nest a few days ago when a 3rd Osprey was trying to hone in

Osprey

While I was at Shippingport, I saw several other interesting birds! So, I thought I would share! I saw a different looking type of hawk. I don't think I have seen this kind before. I have posted it to flickr, and asked for help with the ID. I will let you know as soon as I find out.

Hawk

Double Crested Cormorants spend quite a bit of time at Falls of the Ohio! Many days you can see them sitting on the weir in a line. When the water is down, they spend time on the rocks and fossil beds. Sometimes at Shippingport, I will see them swimming around in the bay near the locks, or doing a flyby!

Double Crested Cormorant

I also got to witness a Red Shouldered Hawk flying over me carrying a snake! It was pretty cool! She flew straight over to Sand Island, (the island across from Shippingport, closer to the locks) and through the trees. I'm assuming she had a nest over there. It wasn't very long until I started hearing the squawks of Red Shoulders!

Red Shouldered Hawk

A very big treat for me, was getting to see Caspian Terns! They were flying around and fishing in the bay. At first I thought they were gulls, but as I was photographing them, I realized they weren't Gulls at all! I can't say I have seen these kind of Terns anywhere other than the ocean!

Caspian Terns

You will probably hear a lot about Shippingport from me this summer. I started going there to watch the Ospreys last summer, but I have discovered it is a great place to see a wide variety of birds! Ryan met me over there last Sunday, and the place was dead! You know, like when you just hear crickets chirping! I'm sure he thinks I'm making this stuff up! LOL

Posted in: Caspian Tern,Double Crested Cormorant,Osprey,Red-shouldered Hawk,Shippingport Island