First Chick Hatches at Butler Osprey Nest!

We are excited to report one of the eggs hatched on Monday, May 27th at 9:09 AM, Memorial Day at the Moraine State Park – Moraine Preservation Fund Osprey nest located in Butler County, PA. This area has one of the most significant clusters of osprey nests in Pennsylvania. The Moraine Preservation Fund (MPF) established an Osprey Reintroduction Program in June of 1993. It was a huge success and resulted in 99 fledglings over a four year period. The fledglings were raised from the hacking tower at Moraine State Park. MPF is doing wonderful things for the park and continues to help the osprey population grow. A special thank you to ITG Networks and PixCams for their assistance in making this project a success.

First osprey chick named O18 hatched on 5/27/2024

This season there were three eggs laid at the nest, but we expect two of the eggs are not viable and will not hatch. This nesting season the pair of ospreys have had their challenges. The nest was attacked by a great horned owl taking the female off the nest on May 15th at 10:15 PM.

Great horned owl attack on May 15th

The female recovered from the attack but didn’t return to the nest until early the next morning. She was attacked again, presumably by the same owl eight days later May 23rd at 1:11 AM.

Great horned owl attack on May 23rd

Fortunately none of the eggs seemed to be damaged in the attacks, but we are not certain that the eggs that didn’t hatch were not damaged in the attacks. The great horned owl did return to the nest after both attacks but didn’t appear to damage the eggs like other bird species often will do.

Great horned owl returns to nest after May 14th attack

This isn’t the first time this osprey pair has had to deal with attacks from great horned owls. Last season this nest suffered an attack but a great horned owl that kills all three osprey chicks in the nest on the morning of Friday, June 30th. We hare hopeful this will not happen again this season.

Watch the Butler Moraine Osprey Nest Cam Live Here:

https://pixcams.com/moraine-osprey-cam/

Nest Predators and Competitors

Osprey nests, although carefully constructed and often located in seemingly secure locations, face threats from various species that attack them for different reasons. These intrusions can pose significant challenges to osprey populations, impacting their breeding success and survival rates.

Several bird species, such as eagles and owls, pose direct threats to osprey nests. Bald eagles, for instance, are known to attack osprey nests to steal fish and sometimes even prey on osprey chicks. This aggressive behavior stems from the eagles’ opportunistic nature and their own need for food, especially when other resources are scarce. Great horned owls are another formidable predator. They often raid osprey nests at night, preying on eggs and young chicks. These owls are stealthy hunters, taking advantage of the cover of darkness to catch the ospreys off guard.

Mammalian Threats

Mammals such as raccoons and snakes also pose significant threats to osprey nests, especially those located closer to shorelines or on lower structures. Raccoons are adept climbers and can access nests to feed on eggs and young chicks. Their attacks are usually driven by their omnivorous diet and the availability of easy prey in osprey nests. Similarly, large snakes can climb to reach osprey nests, primarily targeting eggs and hatchlings. These predators are motivated by their dietary needs and the opportunity to exploit an abundant food source.

Intraspecific Competition

In addition to these predators, ospreys face competition from other birds of prey, such as other ospreys or larger raptors like hawks and falcons. These species might not necessarily prey on osprey chicks, but they compete for nesting sites and food resources. When prime nesting sites are limited, ospreys may find their nests usurped or damaged by these competitors, leading to abandoned nests or reduced reproductive success. The competition for territory and resources highlights the complex dynamics within avian communities, where even closely related species can become adversaries.

These interactions underscore the delicate balance within ecosystems, where predation and competition are natural processes that can influence the population dynamics of species like ospreys. While osprey nests face numerous threats from predators and competitors, these challenges are part of the broader ecological context in which ospreys live. Effective conservation strategies must consider these factors, ensuring that osprey populations remain resilient despite the pressures they face from both natural and anthropogenic sources.

Understanding the various species that attack osprey nests and the reasons behind their actions provides insight into the complex interplay of predator-prey relationships and competition in natural habitats. By addressing these challenges through conservation and management efforts, we can help maintain healthy osprey populations and the ecosystems they inhabit.

10 Facts About Ospreys

Fact 1: Osprey have a specialized diet

Ospreys primarily eat fish, which constitutes about 99% of their diet. They have specialized physical adaptations to help them catch and handle fish, such as reversible outer toes and barbed pads on their feet to grip slippery prey.

The osprey is often called the “fish eagle” due to its remarkable specialization and proficiency in catching fish, which constitutes the vast majority of its diet. Ospreys are highly skilled hunters, capable of spotting fish from considerable heights while soaring or hovering above water bodies. They are known for their dramatic, feet-first dives into the water to catch fish.

Fact 2: Ospreys are found globally

Ospreys are found on every continent except Antarctica. They are highly adaptable and can live near any body of water with an adequate food supply, from coastal regions to inland lakes and rivers.

Fact 3: Ospreys have a distinct appearance

Ospreys have a white underside and head, with a distinctive dark eye stripe that runs through their eyes to the sides of their heads. Their upperparts are dark brown, which provides camouflage when viewed from above.

Female ospreys are generally larger and heavier than males. This size difference, known as sexual dimorphism, is common among birds of prey. Females typically weigh between 1.6 to 2.4 kg (3.5 to 5.3 lbs), while males weigh between 1.2 to 1.8 kg (2.6 to 4 lbs).

One of the most noticeable differences is the markings on their breast. Females typically have more pronounced and darker speckling or streaking on their chest, sometimes referred to as a “necklace.” Males, on the other hand, usually have a whiter, less streaked chest.

Fact 4: Ospreys build a unique nest

Osprey build large nests, often reused and added to each year, which can become quite substantial over time. These nests are typically located in high places such as trees, cliffs, and human-made structures like poles and platforms.

Fact 5: Ospreys migrate

Unlike the bald eagles in our region the ospreys are migratory birds. In North America, they typically breed in the northern United States and Canada and migrate to Central and South America for the winter. Some populations in tropical regions may remain in the same area year-round.

Fact 6: Ospreys are impressive divers!

Ospreys are excellent hunters and dive feet-first into the water to catch fish. They can plunge from heights of 30 to 100 feet (9 to 30 meters) and are capable of adjusting the angle of their dive to increase their success rate.

Fact 7: Ospreys are monogamous

Ospreys often form monogamous pairs and may mate for life. They return to the same nesting sites year after year and both parents share responsibilities in raising their young.

Fact 8: Ospreys populations have made a great recovery!

The osprey population faced declines due to pesticide use, particularly DDT, in the mid-20th century. However, they have made a remarkable recovery since the ban on DDT and are now a conservation success story.

Fact 9: Ospreys have an unique call

Ospreys have a distinctive, high-pitched, whistling call that is often heard near their nests or hunting grounds. This call is used for communication between mates and to signal alarm.

Fact 10: Ospreys live a long time!

In the wild, ospreys can live up to 15-20 years. Some have been known to live even longer, with banding records showing individuals reaching over 25 years of age.

Other Nests to Watch at PixCams!

The three eaglets at the Little Miami Conservancy bald eagle nest are growing fast and are almost the size of their parents now. These eaglets should fledge around the end of June. You still have about a month to watch them!

Watch the Little Miami Conservancy Eagle Nest Here

https://pixcams.com/lmc-bald-eagle-nest/

The eaglet at the United States Steel Corporation bald eagle nest live streaming near Pittsburgh, PA is also growing fast. This eaglet, named Lucky, should fledge in early July.

Watch the USS Bald Eagle Nest Here

https://pixcams.com/uss-eagles/

The four owlets in PixCams Owl Box 5 and the two owlets in PixCams Owl Box 4 have all successfully fledged. These six owlets fledged on May 19th and 20th. This is the first year we have had two nesting eastern screech owls successfully nest in our nest boxes! Our songbird boxes are filled with nesting activity too. We have already had successful bluebird and chickadee nests. See the links below for our various nest box cameras.

9 PixCams Screech Owl Nest Boxes: https://pixcams.com/screech-owls/

9 PixCams Songbird Nest Boxes: https://pixcams.com/bird-nest-boxes/

WLT Screech Owl Nest Boxes: https://pixcams.com/wlt-owl-boxes/

WLT Songbird Nest Boxes: https://pixcams.com/wlt-bird-nest-boxes/