Platform #4 - Two Youngster Showed their heads!

E-mail and photo form Jim Martin:

Hello Fellow Naturalists & Conservationists:

Tonight was a very special evening. As I arrived at platform #4 along Hogback Rd - Alum Creek, Mr. Tuttle said he spotted an egg shell and I should get a photo. I grabbed my camera an captured the photo. Just moments later Dick Tuttle spotted a baby Osprey's head pop-up over the brim of the nest. Moments later I said - I see two! The male showed-up with a fish and the female began feeding the two little one - who ate a "ton". The feeding lasted about 10 mins. This was our first sighting of youngsters this season. We now have two viable-certain nests with youngsters, Hoover is the other. We have two to go - Platform #1 and the Delaware Lake nest.

On the attached photo notice egg shell to the left of the female on the nest. This is the first Osprey egg shell photo we have taken. To the left of the egg shell you may notice a two sets of eyes of the babies. Very difficult to see, look directly above dead-center of the platform. Sorry (Bad light at sunset). Tomorrow morning I hope to get a more vivid photo of these two little ones. Oh Boy!

Conditions:

• Date: May 23, 2007
• Duration: 2023 - 2115 Hours, Sunset.
• Skies: Partly Cloudy,
• Wind: None
• Temperatures: 90° - 83°.
• Platform #4: Male & Female Osprey Feeding two babies (Crappie).
• Equipment: Telescope (Tuttle), Nikon Digital Camera and binoculars (Martin), binoculars (Germann).

Best Wishes,

Jim Martin, Dick Tuttle & Frank Germann