The trouble with geese - we are not alone!
You may recall that during the winter we often cover the Manton Bay nest with a builder's bag to try to keep it from being occupied by Canada and Eqyptian Geese. This problem with geese is something that we thought was unique to Rutland until a message arrived last week from Kelly Cordell-Stine, a Wildlife Biologist working in Washington State, USA.
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Kelly wrote: We have a large number of Ospreys that nest in North-Central Washington. My job is to ensure that if the Ospreys are using a utility structure to nest upon, that the nest is moved to a safe location or the structure is modified so to avoid risk to the Osprey and system reliability. We routinely monitor approximately 30 Osprey nests in our area. Some of these nests are natural, others are on stand-alone platforms or modified utility poles provided by us. We also have a number of Canada Geese that nest in the area. The geese tend to initiate nests approx. two weeks before the Ospreys return. Every spring, we have issues with geese occupying Osprey nests. This year, we had 9 Ospreys that were displaced from their nests by geese. I am looking for ideas on how to cover Osprey nests to prevent geese from moving in on them. I would appreciate any information you may have on your experience covering Osprey nests to prevent geese from using them. To give you a better idea of what we are dealing with, please see www.chelanpud.org/avianProtectionPlan.html and www.chelanpud.org/raptors.html
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Having told Kelly how effective we have found builders' bags in the past, it suddenly occurred to us that we may need something a little larger for this year's huge nest in Manton Bay. All offers of enormous bags will be gratefully received! |
Vols Obs 3: One that got away
Wader Scrape hide was full at 2.00pm on the afternoon of Sunday 15th June. 5N continued to incubate her ancient egg - it was now Day 50 - and there was a lot of concern and despondency among visitors, staff and volunteers alike over the failure of this pair to produce a healthy brood as they did last year. There was still a lot to see, however, and four Ospreys had been in view only a few minutes ago.
At 2.05pm 08 was spotted by a visitor struggling in with a huge trout in the undercarriage. We estimated it was two feet long, and it must have taken a huge effort to get it out of the water. He eventually managed to get it onto a perch on the fallen tree, and stood there for a moment to recover, with one foot on the fish. The next moment, we were aware of another male Osprey, 32(05,) cruising into the bay from the north, and obviously intent on mischief! He tried to land on his elder sister’s nest, but she stood up and raised her wings threateningly, so instead he buzzed a couple of times over the head of 08, who also flapped his wings while still trying to hold on to the massive fish, which was still more or less untouched. 32 was persistent in his assaults, and finally 08 tried to launch himself and his fish into the air, but sadly, and to groans from everyone in the hide, he dropped the fish, which fell into the water with a loud splash! He chased off after 32, and we all hoped he gave him a good peck for causing the loss of the fish.
08 returned to the same perch after a while, and peered down into the water - would he find the fish? He plunged in once, but failed to emerge with it, and in the end went off to fish again. Ages later he came back with a much smaller fish and made no further attempt to find the monster one. Through all this 5N continued to incubate and was eventually given a rather meagre tail-end, which she took off to eat on the fallen tree, while 08 resumed care of the unhatchable egg……..just another incident in the home-life of the Osprey.
Ken Davies.
Watching Ospreys and seeing Rails
Wader Scrape Hide on the Lyndon Reserve offers great views of the Ospreys on the Manton Bay nest, but immediately in front of the hide is an area of reedbed where, all last summer the curious calls of Water Rail could be heard. Last winter three channels were cleared through the reeds and this has opened up occasional views of the adult Rails throughout this spring. Then in late May the adults were seen carrying food into the depths of the reeds and, soon afterwards, six chicks were brought out to feed just 2 or 3 metres from the hide. For most birdwatchers this was the first ever view of the strange chicks, with bare pink patches on the back of their heads and to see them so close and oblivious of the clicking cameras above them was quite remarkable. |
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A typical view was of the two adults feeding a chick each while the other four youngsters huddled together in a pile of squirming bodies, much as they must have done before they left their nest. After a week or so the family moved away and were seldom seen, but Water Rails can have two broods, so later this summer there may be a second chance to see this remarkable sight.
Previous stories from the Osprey Observer
Stories that have appeared on this page earlier this year have been moved to archive pages: March/April and May/June.
We would be very pleased to receive pictures, news and ideas for inclusion in this magazine-type addition to the Rutland Osprey website. Please send us an email.