Look Back at the 2010 Osprey Cam.

The osprey chicks have left the nest and the live-streaming osprey cam, jointly operated by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) and the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, has been switched off. Two of the three chicks fledged successfully and this particular osprey family will be soon head south for winter.

"Despite some technical glitches we were happy with the way the osprey cam worked this year, and extremely pleased that the adults were able to successfully raise a pair of young – especially after last year when both eggs were taken from the nest by predators," said FWCP senior wildlife biologist John Krebs from BC Hydro.

The FWCP works on behalf of its program partners BC Hydro, Ministry of Environment and Fisheries & Oceans Canada to take proactive steps to protect fish and wildlife populations throughout B.C.

This year the first of three chicks hatched in mid-June following a 35-40 day incubation period. One chick went missing on July 19, and the remaining two birds took their first flights in mid-August with both successfully leaving the nest by August 23.

The camera, located near Creston, provided a close look at day-to-day life in an osprey nest: the shrieking of the young as the adult male came into close range to deliver fish; the female feeding her young; and how she would mantle her wings to protect them from the elements.

"We got lots of emails about the ospreys from various parts of the world," added Krebs. "The majority of questions revolved around the missing chick, and the intermittent sneezing of the remaining chicks."

While the camera was not streaming live when the chick went missing, a juvenile bald eagle is thought to be responsible for the predation as one was observed circling the nest about the same time of the disappearance. A thorough ground search around the nest site revealed no evidence of the chick falling, or having been pushed from the nest by its siblings.

Ospreys, like other raptors, can have respiratory ailments, and chicks may appear to be very congested with mucous. Both of these juveniles, however, appear to have grown well and left the nest successfully.

"Another popular question we continue to receive is whether we intend to operate the osprey cam next year," said Krebs. "The answer is yes – with the wonders of Mother Nature permitting of course!"

Osprey Facts

• Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) return to the same nest, made of sticks, often located on man-made elevated structures such as power poles, buoys and bridges as well as cliffs and snags.
• The female lays between two to four eggs, one to five days apart. The eggs are incubated for 35 to 40 days.
• The diet of an Osprey consists nearly entirely of live fish so the Fertilization Program in Kootenay Lake that has helped boost kokanee numbers is playing an important role in supporting the local population.
• Ospreys can become completely submerged when diving for fish and still take off with their prey, unlike Bald Eagles which pluck the fish from the surface.
• There have been reports of Ospreys drowning after locking into a fish that is too big and strong to bring to the surface.
• Ospreys were once threatened around the world primarily due to the use of DDT and other pesticides, but their numbers have rebounded in recent decades.
• They are the most widely distributed bird of prey, found on all continents except Antarctica.
• Ospreys in the Columbia Basin usually migrate in winter to the southern United States or Mexico.
• Ospreys are unique in that they have an opposable toe that can face forward or backward. When sitting on a branch it usually has three toes on the front and one on the back. When holding a fish it usually has two toes on each side of the fish. When flying with its prey the Osprey invariably flies with the fish head first to reduce wind resistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

A: On the morning of July 19, the smallest of the three chicks went missing. One theory is that it was pushed out of the nest by its siblings (not uncommon with raptors), but a thorough ground search around the base of the tree revealed nothing. Another theory is that it was taken by a juvenile bald eagle that was seen circling in the area around the time of the disappearance.

A: The male is still delivering fish, but typically only stays on the nest for a few seconds each time. Male Ospreys usually catch the fish and bring them to the female who feeds the young. Once the chicks are old enough they will start to take the fish directly from the male when he lands. The female may start fishing if they are not getting enough to eat.

A: As the osprey chicks approach fledging age they will exercise their wings at the edge of the nest. While they don't often fall they are susceptible to premature fledging and may jump before they can fly, especially if they are disturbed.

A: Osprey chicks usually fledge at 50-55 days of age. They will remain at or near the nest for up to three weeks after fledging as they remain dependent on parental feeding during that time. Since the last chick hatched on June 16th they should fledge around the first week of August and leave the nest three weeks later.

A: No, it will only run for the breeding season.

A: Ospreys are very prone to respiratory ailments and in observing and handling chicks over the years, there have been several incidences of chicks that appear to be very congested with mucous to the point of serious discomfort. Wildlife biologist M. Machmer has not seen a lot of cases where this congestion has been the cause of death when brood reduction occurs but she suspects it can happen, as it has been documented with other raptors. (M. Machmer, Pandion Ltd., personal communication)