CHESAPEAKE BAY, MD~2018-2024

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

And with a new cam, new pole and only half of the scraggly stick tree!

From the Osprey blog, Mrs. COM and the 'Crazy Osprey Family" : Everything is okay here at the secret location, other than a pandemic going on. We had technical difficulties with the camera, and had to get a new one which just arrived last week and is due to be installed this weekend on the dock. The new pole has been delivered, and we hope to have it up and running next week, weather dependent. We had lots of swans this winter, around 50, and as you know, they are quite lovely. No signs of any ospreys yet, which is good because the weather has been horrid. The scraggly stick tree broke into two pieces, and one of the pieces fell over and had to be removed. The other half is still there, but tilting precariously so I don’t know how much longer it will hang on. I am planning to write a blog in the next week or so with photos from last season that were never published, but you know what they say about the best laid plans…..
So stand by, hopefully we will have a better year all around than 2020. Thanks so much for checking in!

Ferenz · **Posted:** Thu Mar 04, 2021 3:26 pm

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

Not one of ours, but the osprey are arriving at Chesapeake! Won't be long.

Chesapeake Conservancy Mod • 15 hours ago • edited
Exciting to see an osprey on the platform this morning! Mrs. Crazy Osprey Man confirmed that it was not Tom or Audrey. Stay tuned! Hopefully they are not far behind!

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

Mrs. COM Blog Part 1:

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

About 40 minutes ago, an osprey landed on the platform. There have been some visitors that have stopped here previous, but not at night. It is dark outside and an ID is difficult at this time. Many are thinking this could be Audrey. I can not tell at this point. Audrey at night has always been particularly beautiful to me. This one is looking a little shagged and lean, but after such a long journey it could be understandable if this is Audrey. Will watch for a confirmation that may not come until tomorrow or not.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

Okay, just found this since I posted above and this is not Audrey per Mrs. COM, but possibly is Calico Tom! Will await confirmation that may take till tomorrow.

Chesapeake Conservancy Mod • 13 minutes ago
Is that you, Tom? Mrs. Crazy Osprey Man has confirmed this is not Audrey, but definitely "could be" Tom! Thank you, explore.org for the great night view! And thank you CamOp Spish for the great screen shot!

Maybe, Calico Tom?

Edit to add: Have been watching and while I am certainly unsure of who this is, one thing I am sure of is this is a very "tired" osprey ...

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

Well, I am not going to wait now to express my thoughts that this is Calico Tom after just seeing Uta's captures showing the Osprey who remains perched on the platform and Calico Tom from last year. Even with the tilt of the head being slightly different and that one is nighttime and the other capture during the daylight, the dots in the iris have it! The head markings are also convincing. While all of the dots do not show at night, the 3 main ones that do are in the same positions as those on him during the day and a couple that abut the pupil are also in the same locations. You can zoom the captures to see.

From Uta:

Uta Große • 2 hours ago
03-26-2021
Osprey on platform left Tom last year right .

And what she posted after being asked what her thoughts were:

Uta Große Carrie/MA/USA • 2 hours ago
We must still wait for eye scan but all marker from head wich i saw is it Tom my guess.The dark eye band,the head back and the eye dots on any places let me think,its Tom

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

Confirmation it's Calico Tom this morning!

Chesapeake Conservancy Mod • an hour ago
Good morning from the Chesapeake! After careful review, Mrs. Crazy Osprey Man has confirmed Tom’s return!

Video of his arrival home last evening by Arlene Beech:

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

He placed his 1st stick for the nest somewhere between 2 1/2 and a little over 3 hours ago, it was unseen as the cam was elsewhere. Since then he has continued placing sticks for his nest and even had 1 unwelcome osprey guest that admired his work as Tom mantled while turned away from his guest.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

Can't believe Tom is eating this time of night!

Ferenz · **Posted:** Sun Mar 28, 2021 7:19 am

from DVR yesterday evening

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

Ferenz, your 3rd capture is where Tom was eating at 12:30 am. Couldn't believe he had held on to that fish that long, but he kept eating on it off and on all evening. The female visitor paid another visit this morning. Mrs. Com has a new blog and here is an excerpt from that blog that I don't want to think about and a link for the blog below:

"Time will tell whether our beloved Audrey II will grace us with her presence back at the nest, or a soon-to-be beloved Audrey III will take her place. Audrey II is at least 14 years old, and would be reaching near the end of the average life span for an osprey."

Mrs. Com Blog with photos.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

Only Calico Tom (Tom #3 for this nest) and the female visitor have been seen so far today. Calico Tom has been with this nest since 2015. Audrey (Audrey #2) has been with this nest since 2010. Of the years that the return dates for Tom and Audrey have been recorded, Audrey has always returned before Calico Tom. The range of her returns from migration to the bay have been from 3/8 to 3/21. His range has been from 3/19 to 3/31. Continuing to watch for her return and hoping there is only an unknown delay in her doing so.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

Bringing these captures here by Penquin of the visiting female that Calico Tom has mated with in case Audrey does not return from migration. She is overdue. Audrey has been with this nest since 2010 and is Audrey (2), Audrey (1) nested here prior to 2010. If Audrey does not return and this female nests here this season, she will be known as Audrey and become Audrey (3). Calico Tom is Tom (3) and has nested here since 2015. Tom (2) nested here from 2010 through 2014. Tom (1) was here prior to 2010. Calico was added by the biologist I believe when Tom (3) arrived d/t the noticeable unique pattern with coloring of his feathers. I hope Audrey is well and she returns, but with each passing day the chance lessens. Captures by Pens-fan:

Portrait of visiting female.

Full frontal view of visiting female.

Ferenz · **Posted:** Thu Apr 01, 2021 6:09 am

From DVR yesterday: Tom with fish

Ferenz · **Posted:** Thu Apr 01, 2021 9:57 am

Ferenz · **Posted:** Thu Apr 01, 2021 9:59 am

Tom & visitor female mating...

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

For Audrey who did not return from migration. The visiting female has now become Audrey (3).

Chesapeake_Conservancy_Member Mod • 20 minutes ago
Mrs. Crazy Osprey Man confirmed that the female osprey we've seen over the past several days is a 'new' Audrey. Let's welcome home Audrey 3!

This isn't the first time we've had a new osprey on the nest. Audrey 2 was featured on the nest since 2010, and our current Tom is Tom 3, since 2015. For naming purposes and consistency, the birds that inhabit this nest are called Tom & Audrey.

We're looking forward to a productive & exciting season! Thank you all for your viewership and support.

Beth · **Posted:** Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:47 pm

Many thanks for the update Swinwk...

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12708

From CCM Mod:

Chesapeake_Conservancy_Member Mod • 6 hours ago
The nest is coming along! Tom & Audrey have been building a new nest, and we're hoping for eggs soon.

Thank you to COM & Explore for their attempts to restore sound to the cam. The sound is out but they're exploring other ways to fix the issue. Thank you for your patience!

Soft materials have been added now. Multiple matings daily.

If you put your sound on the maximum volume, you can hear Audrey faintly.

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CHESAPEAKE BAY, MD~2018-2024

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