It may be considered voyeurism, but this local family doesn’t seem to be shy about being watched.
Early this spring, Niagara Bee Group installed a nest camera on a 60-foot high platform where a pair of ospreys had built a nest the previous year. Once established, ospreys generally return to their nesting site year after year. In the first year, the nest can be relatively small, three feet across and eight inches deep, but over years it may end up being six feet across and 10 feet deep as they continue to build up their nest.
Niagara Bee Group is an ecosystem restoration organization whose mission is to support biodiversity in the Niagara Region. One of their programs provides artificial nesting platforms to help attract birds of prey to this region. Niagara was once a location with a dense population of raptors which included bald eagles, vultures, falcons, hawks, osprey and owls. Loss of habitat, expanding urbanization and toxic chemicals have taken a toll on their populations.
Ospreys are a type of water hawk that are often seen along the shorelines of lakes and waterways. You can recognize them by the black and white stripe on their forehead, brown wings, and white underbelly. They have a five to six-foot wingspan with a crooked beak and long talons. Their call is a high pitched, loud whistling chirp. These magnificent birds of prey are found close to freshwater and are master fishers. Ospreys help regulate fish populations in freshwater ecosystems — their presence indicates healthy waterways.
These migratory birds can travel thousands of miles to reach their winter homes in central and South America. They will head south at the end of summer making rest stops along the eastern coast once they leave Ontario. They eventually island hop their way through the Caribbean and may have their final destination as far south as Venezuela. Some research agencies have put mini backpacks with GPS locators on their backs to track the migration routes of these incredible birds. According to Cornell Institute, “An osprey may log more than 160,000 migration miles during its 15-to-20-year lifetime.”
Everyone was ecstatic when a female and her mate arrived at the nest on March 29. The birds were fondly named Bonnie and Clyde, which seemed appropriate for a couple setting off on journey from South America to Canada — hopefully they weren’t running away from any issues with the law! Romance ensued, but it wasn’t long before the honeymoon was over and the couple had to start preparing the nest for babies that were on the way. They gathered sticks and other materials to add to the existing nest — every home requires a bit of spring cleaning. Osprey nests are very messy, made up of sticks and other materials scavenged from the area. Unfortunately, rubbish, such as paper, rope, and bits of plastic were also woven in, as can be viewed on the nest cam. Perhaps they wanted a little waterproofing, modern materials can be very convenient!
Bonnie didn't seem to be particularly interested in housekeeping — most days, she would spend a few minutes moving sticks around and then laze about in the sun waiting for Clyde to bring dinner home. A few weeks later we noticed that Bonnie began to take housekeeping a bit more seriously as she added some softer materials, like grass and leaves on top of rough branches. On the morning of April 25th, Bonnie was sitting very still and when she finally stood up, there appeared an egg. Three days later a second egg appeared and then surprisingly, a third egg was laid on April 30.
Now Bonnie and Clyde’s relationship began to get serious—those eggs needed constant attention so who would stay home to sit on the eggs and who would bring home the food? Bonnie and Clyde seem to be a modern couple because they both took turns sitting on the eggs. While one stayed home to mind the eggs, the other partner took off for a nice flight and a bit of fishing in nearby Lake Erie. Ospreys are unique among hawks, they are extremely talented at fishing because of their exacting eyesight and their powerful talons. Their feet are equipped with barbed pads and a unique reversible outer toe that allows them to hold a slippery fish with their talons. They plunge feet first into the water and are remarkably successful at capturing a fish; they then cleverly position their prey, head first facing into the wind, for less drag while flying
About 38 days later, Bonnie was examining her eggs and our YouTube audience was able to watch live as the chicks emerged from their shells. A nest camera is an amazing tool that allows people to better understand and appreciate wildlife behaviour by getting a first-hand look into their lives. This technology helps Niagara Bee Group monitor and document the progress of these majestic birds and is a great way to create awareness and education. Birds of prey have declined rapidly in the last century with the advent of DDT, and were almost driven to the point of extinction. But since that pest control chemical has been discontinued, they are making a steady comeback throughout North America, however every new chemical that is introduced into the environment may once again threaten their existence.
The chicks have a voracious appetite and are growing and changing daily as all babies do. This week the chicks are starting to get their permanent feathers and will soon be ready to leave the nest. Watching Bonnie and Clyde raise their family with such care and devotion makes one appreciate the sophistication of the wild kingdom. Humans can learn a lot from watching how they interact with each other and how they feed and protect each other and their babies. By live-streaming this osprey nest, Niagara Bee Group hopes to raise awareness about these remarkable birds and the importance of preserving their habitats.
Join us as we observe the daily lives of these majestic creatures, marvel at their hunting prowess, and learn more about their significance in our natural world. In the next few weeks, the chicks will be getting ready to take flight, it will be exciting to see them as their parents encourage them to leave the nest and become independent. Hopefully as they mature, they will find a mate and one day return to build a nest of their own right here in Niagara.
To view the nest cam live go to: https://www.niagarabeegroup.com/live-osprey-cam.html
If you would like information about erecting a platform on your property, contact www.niagarabeegroup.com