The nesting season is over for most ospreys in Pennsylvania and some are already on the move.
In early August young ospreys stay close to home and practice their fishing skills under dad’s watchful eye, but it’s likely their mother has already left on migration. This osprey family in Duquesne, PA is a case in point.
On July 19 Dana Nesiti photographed them when only two had fledged and their activity was still centered on the nest.
When Dana returned on July 25, all three had fledged and competition had intensified for their parents’ handouts. Below, the youngster at right has food while two others squabble over a fish. The bird on the far left grabbed his sibling by the wing to pull him away. “Give it to me!”
The winner flew off with the live fish.
But now more than two weeks later, the nest is not the focal point and the family will be hard to find.
Ospreys live in family groups during the breeding season but otherwise live alone. The family starts to break up shortly after the young fledge. Mom leaves before the kids are independent while dad stays behind to feed them for 10-20 days or more. When the youngsters are self sufficient they leave, too. Finally their father departs, 7 to 39 days after his lady left town.
Because they eat live fish North American ospreys don’t dare to linger where the water will freeze. They spend the winter in Central and South America and the Caribbean, each at his own favorite place. The adults won’t meet again until they return to their breeding territory. The juveniles will stay south for two to three years before they come north to breed for the first time.
After this family has left Duquense we’ll see other ospreys passing through but “our” birds will be gone until next spring.
(photos by Dana Nesiti)
How does the young osprey know were to migrate to.
Carol, many bird species are both with an internal compass and an instinct that tells them when and where to go. Geese, swans and cranes are an exception — they learn from their parents.
Do you mean the same two adults will mate here next season?
Carol, yes the same two will come back — unless something happens to one/both of them.
Hi Kate!
I’m in MD and had been watching the Hays and Cathedral nests (my husband grew up in West Homestead). When the Hays nest emptied, I chanced upon an osprey nest cam at the Chesapeake Conservancy site. The two (fostered) chicks — and a stray fledgeling adopted by the family — are definitely in the “squabbling over food” phase. Thanks for your great info on what happens next (and Dana’s beautiful photos)! They are lively and fascinating birds – many similarities to the eagles, but sorta quirky too. Do any nests in the Pgh area have a camera?
Barbara, I don’t know of any osprey cams in the Pittsburgh area.
thank you very much for your interesting information share. Love the Osprey’s only started watching them this year. I have been watching 2 lots one in England and one in Wales. Will miss them very much when they fly away. Bless you
Thanks for the migration information. I see the Canadian geese, wild migrate and the ones released here don’t. An old but exceptional TV series Trails of Life, speculated nesting young may imprint on the night constellations to return to the place of there birth.