Watch this space for updates on the re-nesting attempts by a Tallahassee Osprey pair whose favorite nest site was removed over the winter of 2022-2023. Banner photo by Edward Munoz/Audubon Photography Awards.
Click for the latest Nest-building Updates
Kudos to AAS member Sue Hansen and the City of Tallahassee! Sue has been strongly advocating for a pair of Ospreys who lost their long-standing nest site over the winter while they were away on migration. They had been using a cell tower (seen in the background of this photo) and when it was decommissioned the structure the birds built on was removed. Over the winter, Sue brought the matter to the attention of the City, which owns the site. In response, City staff installed two alternative nesting platforms, one next to the tower, which remains, and another a short distance away.
The Ospreys arrived back from migration the second week of February and have been VERY puzzled by the change at the tower and are doing their best to start a nest (see photo below). Here's hoping that they will eventually find the other platforms appealing and put them to good use!
Sue Hansen, with the former cell tower, and favorite nesting site for a pair of Ospreys, in the background. Photo by Kathleen Carr.
New nesting platform, set up near the tower. Photo by Kathleen Carr.
New nesting platform set up farther away from the tower. Photo by Kathleen Carr.
Nest-building Updates
April 1, 2023
Just before the video below was recorded, the male was seen flying in with a large stick. The two birds sat together for about 10 minutes, then mated and the male flew off--perhaps in search of another stick. Did not see any brooding behavior by the female. Photo and video by Kathleen Carr.
The Osprey pair sitting on their nest, rebuilt on a different corner of the tower after their first nest was blown down on March 10. The male had just flown in carrying a large branch for the nest.
March 17, 2023
Persistence! The Osprey pair has rebuilt the nest, on the corner diagonally across from the original nest, and seem determined to use this site, even though there are two alternate nesting platforms available nearby. Photo and video by Kathleen Carr.
March 10, 2023
The nest appeared to be in good shape this morning and it appeared that the female might be brooding. One bird was settled in on the nest when the video below was recorded that morning. Four hours later, after a storm had moved through the area, the nest had completely fallen apart. Below, before and after photos and video recorded that morning (by Kathleen Carr).
The nest, before and after it was hit by a storm. The image on the left—with one osprey, presumably the female, sitting in it—was taken around 10:30 AM, the image on the right was taken at about 2:30 PM. Left photo by Kathleen Carr. Right photo by Sue Hansen.
March 2, 2023
The Osprey pair had been making feeble attempts at nest building since their arrival in mid-February, but by March 2 they were building in earnest—and mating! Video recorded March 2, 2023 by Kathleen Carr.
March 1, 2023
The Ospreys have been making progress with their nest building! Photo taken March 1, 2023 by Kathleen Carr.
February 15, 2023
With not much to build on, the Osprey pair is trying to make a go of the tower as a nest site. Photo taken February 15, 2023 by Kathleen Carr.
