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Osprey
Project 2009
Vic's Blog
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July
19, 2009
Well here we are
again. Kay went to Minnesota last week and picked up 5 Osprey for the
Coon Rapids tower. We put 4 in there on Saturday the 19th. Tag letters
are, RN - TJ - PX - RP. RR is still at SOAR. Kay has 2 internship students
who helped with the transfers. They are sisters Angie & Tammie Klocke
of Dedham, also helping, her sister-in-law Janelle and Janelle's husband
Tom Rohrer from Minnesota.
Now for some REALLY EXCITING news. A pair of Osprey have been spotted
at the Gilbertville cell tower and one of them has been identified as
"AT" a 2006 release from our tower in Coon Rapids.
Other Osprey have been spotted (no id's) around the area. One in NW Greene
Co on the Raccoon at Horseshoe bend, one at Springbrook State Park and
one on the river by canoeist's on the Raccoon going through Whiterock.
So things are happening, not just because of our program, but for the
joint effort of everybody involved.
 ..
.
Please mark your calanders for the 5th Sept for our open house. Kay has
a speaker from Idaho who is the coordinator of the same program in South
Dakota. She had tracking transmitters on two of her release birds
last year. Her name is Janie Fink.
I am looking forward to updating this as often as I can with photos.
Vic.
PR tests his wings in the nestbox
 The
door is open and the fledglings ponder their first leap.
August
9
Kay and I (Vic) opened the gates to the tower Tuesday the 4th of August,
as it appeared they were ready to get out, but nothing happened right
away. Janet came to observe also and was disappointed that nothing happened
for over an hour. When Doug came and fed them that evening he reported
that one was out and that was PX. It seemed like RP was ready also but
it chickened out. The next one out was RN and that didn't happen until
Saturday the 8th. RP and TJ were just sitting on the front perch checking
out the scenery.
August
11
All four osprey young are flying!
August
15
I got there about 7:30am Saturday and got a real thrill. One was fishing
already. I sat and watched for about 5 minuetes before going up to feed
them. After I put their food up it took a good 30 minuetes for three of
them to come and eat. The 4th one finally appeared, so all 4 were there
at the same time. Thanks to the shelter that was built by the "AmeriCorps
Volunteers" I was able to stay dry waiting for them to show up.
When I got to the
tower in the afternoon there were three in the tree to the west waiting.
Once again it took about 30 minuetes before they came to eat.
August
16
Sunday 7:45am I got the same fishing show. That's the most fishing from
fledglings that I've seen ever. It really is fun to watch. Anyone wanting
a chance to see this should get there in the morning.
RR had to get more antibiotics so stayed at the farm. Kay said as it couldn't
bond with the 4 we had already put in the tower it would be best to take
it to Spirit Lake with one she had for them, so that's where it went.
August
22
I got there about 6pm. There was one sitting on a stump in the water,
and there were 2 sitting on top. When I got close to tower I saw one chasing
a Turkey Vulture in full flight. After putting up their supper I went
back to the north end and saw 2 eating by the time I got there. About
20 minutes later one came in, got a piece and took off south, then 5 minuetes
later the other came in, got a piece and went west.
August 23
7:30am arrived to see one on a high stump and a female kingfisher sitting
on another one close, and was diving for her breakfast and returning to
the stump. Sat and watched for about 10 minutes while she tried several
times to no avail. The osprey finally left the stump and tried to land
on another one that was occupied by a GBH, who got very vocal and the
osprey took off and went north. After putting the fish up on top I watched
for about an hour and no one came, so I left only to see 2 sitting on
the nesting platform to the north by the wetlands. It's good to know they
are using them.
PM
There were 2 waiting on the box took off when I got there but left when
I got close. As soon as I went to the north end they were back and eating
so they were hungry. One came in about 10 minutes later and took his south.
This group is a lot more shy than last years so am unable to get any decent
pictures.
After reporting to Kay and told her how much these guys are using the
nesting platforms she said that was great. She said she is wanting to
put one closer to the water or even in the water, and said she has a cunning
plan to put one in this winter. This could be interesting!!!!
NOTE: Remember
mention of the osprey "RR" at the beginning of this blog? He
was never released
 at
Whiterock. He came to SOAR from Minnesota with nasal leeches. Sounds horrible
but it is quite common in osprey. Kay gave him some medication and he
was released a little later at Red Rock. These pictures were taken by
Ron Hulse
August
29
Three were honing their fishing skills from the north nesting platform
when I arrived about 7:45am. I watched from the shoulder to start then
went to the viewing area for about a half hour.They were even going down
into the water treatment area, and when I spoke to Kay she said she had
seen the same thing Friday. She couldn't even think that there were any
fish in it.
August
30
Two were on the tower waiting, and after I had put their breakfast up
there, nothing showed except Turkey Vultures. First two, then two more,
and ended up being seven. One brave Osprey came and tried to chase them
off, but there were just to many for it to win the fight. Kay was there
also and didn't like to see it but not much can be done, although it was
fun to see a dog fight in the air. Kay finally got her spotting scope
and tried it out and she let me use it for that evening to try and I.D.
some. I was able to I.D. RN, that night and I will go out again Wednesday
evening to try again.
Don't forget
about the Osprey Celebration this Saturday beginning at 3 pm at the River
House at Whiterock Conservancy. Food, Fun, Education, Silent Auction,
and Ospreys!
September
3
Three birds came in to eat breakfast this morning. Kay watched as they
came right in and started to chow down. The were quite peaceful for awhile
and then the vultures showed up. (Apparently they don't get up very early).
First there were just a couple. One of the osprey flew off with a hunk
of fish. The other two stayed as more showed up. Eventually a second osprey
left with a hunk. Then there were at least 10 vultures flying around,
some landing, but the last osprey held it's ground and the vultures gave
up.
Evening: Went out
with the spotting scope, and got set up about 6:15pm and there was one
eating at the time. It was TJ, and it finally left when someone was walking
by on the new trail. A little later another came and it was RN. While
I was watching RN something caught it's eye and peered skyward and there
was a single "V" of about 50 or more White Pelicans flying over.
Just never know what your going to see when you go out there.
Looking forward to see lots of people out there Saturday. Looks like the
weather is going to be GREAT.
More Information:
Facts
about Osprey
Osprey
reintroduction in Iowa
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