It is amazing how big these nestlings are in just 2 weeks. It is hard to tell, but, that is a big fish. And, the nestlings are being fed larger & larger morsels. In the heat of the day the parent (usually female) will shade the nestlings when it is too hot. The nestlings are standing or resting in the adult's shadow.

Just over one week old - it is family meal time, Papa just brought in a good sized fish. Sitting up straight for fish tid-bits

The nestlings are growing fast - doubled their size in one week. One week old on May 29

Memorial Day and the nestlings are 4 days old. They have just been fed lots of bits of fish and seem suddenly super drowsy.

Like any new "parent" it is hard to stop looking at the new beings and taking photos. The whole family: adult female on the left, male on the right. Name suggestions are coming in - Gusty & Squally, Stormy & Rainy. I detect a theme.....

During the stormy, no-boat-day, northeaster of May 22nd the 2 osprey eggs hatched. The mama kept them warm and cozy, while she endured the pelting of about 2.25 inches of wind-driven rain. May 23, 2025: 1-day old nestlings are wobbling upright to receive bits of fish, brought in by the male, and fed by the female. May 22: Hatching Day in the pouring rain - she is just nestling-down on the wee ones.

Hatching day is getting close. Notice that over the last month+ the Osprey have continued to bring nesting material to the nest. By comparing images, you can see that the nest has been made quite comfy with padding made with grasses and seaweed. The two egg-like rocks that had been visible, seem to have been fully neutralized by the addition of grasses and seaweed, meant to protect the eggs from potential destruction..

During the time of egg-sitting the female does most of the incubation. However, the male will take his turn so that the female can leave the nest, stretch her wings, and find food. After the nestlings hatch the male will bring food to the nest for the young and the female. The male (in the foreground) has just arrive to take his turn sitting on the eggs. The male is on the left. The female is getting off the eggs as the male prepares to settle down.

On April 14th, there were 2 eggs and a rock. Incubation time for Osprey is 35-42 days. Given that there were 4 days between egg 1 and egg 2, I'm guessing that the first sign of a hatched nestling will be on/or about May 17. The variables are many: did incubation start in earnest after the first egg was laid, or was it delayed somewhat in anticipation of a second egg? Will both eggs hatch? On the same day?

The male and female are trying for a second egg, but in this photo there is one egg and 2 rocks.

On an initially cloudy chilly April 10th the female starting incubating 1 egg. Hopefully in the next couple of days there will be additional eggs laid. So far, there are 2 rocks (left in the nest from this past winter) and one egg. Doesn't she look comfy?

March 31, 2025 This year's female is banded on the right leg - the same as last year's. It is likely that it is the same female. Today the osprey platform is swaying in the wind. Notice how the nest has changed in less than a week. It seems to have filled in with more sticks and the sparse floor is now padded with grass and other small material. #osprey #blockisland #blockislandutilitydistrict

March 26, 2025 And now there are 2. On March 18 the first Osprey (presumably the male) returned to the power company platform, and on March 26 the second osprey (presumably the female) returned to the platform. Thus a new season of Osprey Observations has begun. Yay!

It is fledge day! After a busy morning of hop-flying from nest edge to nest edge, the first nestling took flight sometime between 6:30 and 10 a.m. Then there was one. The second one took flight between 10 and 10:45a.m., and then there were none.

Nearly 8 weeks old and these nestlings are getting close to the edge and doing a lot of wing stretches and flapping, but they are still being fed.