TM the transmitting male Osprey has landed !!!

E-mail from Dick Tuttle:

Hello Everyone, 
    Frank Germann and I were standing on Hogback Rd. across from Alum Creek No. One (most northern) platform and we were aiming our scope and camera at a female Osprey perched along the mouth of the creek. At 18:55, an Osprey arrived to circle the platform three times. As he circled, the female flew to land on the platform. Frank was shooting photos of the new bird and I was watching with binoculars. Both of us easily saw his antenna.

 Just like something out of a Disney film, TM executed a "trust landing" on the female's back before he touched down on the platform. Unless satellite data proves otherwise, this might have been his 2007 arrival at Alum Creek. After TM appeared, Dick Phillips and Troy Alpeter joined the welcoming party. 

    Both birds stayed on the platform for 23 minutes before they both flew south to hunt. He departed first, she followed a minute later. He returned with a very large shad after being gone two minutes. 

    A second pair sat on No. Two for most of the time that No. One was occupied. The No. two pair is from No. Four, having been temporarily evicted by a pair of Canada Geese. The ospreys added material to No. Four until it was enough for a goose's nest! 

    A third Osprey has been seen in the area for the last two days. Perhaps, the third bird is 'TM's mate seen today. Also, the goose/osprey war has been raging for several days. 

    This morning, from 0758 - 0900, Frank Germann and I watched the former No. Four Ospreys add sticks to No. Two and Three and attack geese on No. Four twice. It is a war zone. 

    last week thunder storms interrupted the installation of three sign posts and five signs. Presently, the lake is 3'-11" over winter level and most likely, since April 1 is this Saturday, the lake will not be lowered below three feet (888 ft above sea level). However, my wide canoe will allow me to install the signs and posts once the lake falls one more foot. I monitored swallow boxes in a bay near the Columbus Zoo for a number of years using my wide Old Towne Stillwater canoe.  

    Thursday, we will try to straighten the platform at Hoover. 

    By the way, are geese good to eat this time of year? (Just kidding)

    Raptor on, Dick Tuttle