Where did they go,,,? Empty nest: the adult female is looking a bit forlorn. This was the image on August 1st. Since then I've checked multiple times daily and have not seen the youngster back on the nest. The day has come: the nestling has fledged. It is not unusual for the fledgling to go back to the nest occasionally looking for food, but the chance of happening on such a return is slim. Although the family may hang around the island for a month or so learning to feed, t

Growing independence Fish is still being delivered to the nest, but now the nestling is picking it apart on its own and feeding itself. (Nestling is the speckled one on the right) Airborne! At 9.5 - nearly 10 - weeks old the nestling can fly and is often seen airborne around the nest. Occasionally you will find the nest empty but the youngster is not a strong flyer yet and is still on the nest for most of the day - waiting for food delivery from the male.

Practice and exercise is how you learn to fly. The remaining Osprey nestling is 8 weeks old, and working to build up its flight muscles and practicing hop-flying. Soon it will be actually flying, but for now it is still dependent on food deliveries.

Every Body Poops! The sole surviving nestling at the power company pole is 7 weeks old today. It is nearly the same size as the adult, but with a more speckled plumage. In this photo you can clearly see that it has been banded on the left leg. You can also see the long stream of projectile poop that it is in the processes of being excreted. From the point that the nestling could stand, it instinctively knew to back up to the edge of the nest & shoot its poop out of the nest.

Time of death: July 3, 5:30p.m. I am sad to report that a second osprey nestling at the power company has died. I was monitoring the platform for a couple of hours - hoping to snap a good week 6 phot. The more I watched the more I noticed that the smaller nestling was not doing well. In the time I was watching that bird never took food; it seemed weak and unsteady, it flopped down a couple times, it had a couple of bouts of what looked like seizures tossing its head back and

6 weeks old Wow it is sweltering hot today, and the nestlings are 6 weeks old. Although both nestlings are standing up to be fed with the next meal, I've been worried about the smaller more disheveled nestling on the left, for the last several days. It doesn't seem to get its share of food and is often "bullied" and pushed around by the larger more vigorous nestling.

And then there were two. The male (above) is bringing back a small fish and gotten the 2 nestlings excited, as they sit up in unison to be fed. "Nature, red in tooth and claw": On June 25th when we went up to the osprey platform to band the nestlings we were all startled to see that one of the nestlings had died. All 3 were observed the afternoon before and they seemed vigorous. In fact however, when the dead nestling was removed I could see that it was comparatively small a

Thanks to Evan Carey from the BI Utility District - and all the crew - for their devotion to the power company ospreys. My what big talons you have.

It is incredible how big they have gotten in 4 weeks. They are big, they have real feathers (not just down). Note when they stretch their wings out how long they are.

The nestlings are 4 weeks old. Happy Fathers' Day: these 3 nestling should be thankful that dad has been bringing them food for the last 4 weeks. They are so nicely lined up for their late afternoon meal. A little squabble broke out over food.

Three weeks old on a hot BI day. June 12th was a sunny, hot day. Notice the Osprey nestlings are panting as a way of cooling their bodies. Birds do not have sweat glands. You will at time notice the adult Osprey standing over the young with wings partially or fully out stretched providing a cool shady spot. And of course, there is nearly always a wonderful Block Island breeze.

Wow! That is a fresh, big flounder - it's still moving! The 2nd hatched nestling is 2 weeks old today. They are being fed well and growing fast.

What a difference a week makes. The oldest nestling is 2 weeks old today. All three nestlings are robust eaters. Here the female feeds each one bits of fresh fish - each getting their turn. And, if the chunk is too big - mama eats it. At 2 weeks old (and nearly 2 weeks) these osprey nestling have doubled in size. The one on the right has already laid its head down for a nap, the other 2 will follow suit.

At less than 1 week old, the 3 osprey nestlings are being well fex.

Wow! All 3 eggs hatched. It was a rainy Memorial Day weekend, but on May 24th the 3rd egg hatched and the parents kept the new nestlings warm and dry and well fed. If you squint just right you can discern the 3 nestlings - the red lines help.