Second Half Of The 2007 Osprey Migration

E-mail & Map from Jim Martin:

Fellow Observers:

I attached the latest 2007 Northbound telemetry migration data - plotted on a Google Earth© map. It shows the second half of the migration - 1,490 miles. Notice that TM missed the Florida mainland/peninsula this year. The Southwest winds must have been considerable as the Male (TM) was 120, 160, 180 and 175 miles from the West coast of Florida.

The miles traveled on March 21st are the greatest distance (680 miles) I recall seeing in a single day since the transmitter was attached. The distance from the Havana, Cuba shoreline to the shoreline along the Florida panhandle is ~560 miles. We now have two years, 4 trips, of migration data for this Male. With a life expectancy of the transmitter straps that hold on the transmitter the Osprey of about 3 years we could get one more round trip. June 24, 2007 will complete two years that the transmitter has been in operation.

Possible TM stop-over locations over the Gulf of Mexico on March 21 include the Western most Florida Keys, the islands of Dry Tortugas (60 miles West of the Keys), and 6-8 small islands 25 miles South from the Florida panhandle shoreline.

To contrast 2006 versus 2007 Northbound Migrations paths, look here:

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Resources/osprey/migration.htm and here http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Resources/osprey/alumcreekosprey.htm

Best Wishes,

Jim Martin.

Different Female #1 ????

E-mail & photo Jim Martin:

Dick: Attached is a frontal view of the Female from Platform #1 - taken Yesterday. I do not clearly see a band. I also looked over last year's photos of the female on platform #1 and she appeared to be banded. My suspicion that this could be a different (and a larger) Female than last year's could be correct. I am sending this photo to two fellow photographers that may be able to confirm this (Mr. Germann & Mr. Maier). Frank & Mike: I did not have a powerful enough lens to get up close to the legs on the female on #1 last year. Could you look over some of your 2006 photos to determine the banding(s) of the female on platform #1. Thanks Gents. Jim.

Re: TM the transmitting male Osprey has landed

Here are two photos of the return of the male w/ transmitter to nest #1 and greeting the female that has been at the nest a day or two.

thanks
Frank Germann

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

Osprey Migration Complete - Nest Building

E-mail and photo from Jim Martin:

Fellow Observers and Naturalists:

Dick Tuttle & I visited the Migrating Osprey this morning. As the photo shows, nest building has begun as the Female arranges branches on platform #1 at the Alum Creek - Hogback Road site. The Male never left the perch as he devoured a large fish. The Female made several trips from the platform for exercise - seemingly. She never returned with branches or a fish.

The two Osprey that had a good nesting start on Platform #4 were observed on Platform #2 (again) as they added branches to this second nest. Perhaps the two Canada Geese have successfully taken-over Platform #4. No Geese were viewed on any platforms.

Observation Conditions:

March 28, 2007 (Day #2),

Duration: 11:56 - 13:19 Hours,

Temperatures: 57° to 62°,

Skies: Mostly cloudy, light fog,

Other Birds: 2 Adult Osprey (no leg bands) on Platform #2, Turkey Vultures,

Other Observers: A few autos, 2 hikers.

Migration Notes: On March 27th at 04:02 hours satellite data showed that the Male Osprey was just 66 miles South of Columbus, Ohio.

First Sightings: Observations and photos posted by Dick Tuttle and Frank Germann showed the Male at the platform at 18:56 hours on the 27th.

Best Wishes,

Jim Martin.

Male returns to nest #1 on Hogback Rd.

Dick Tutle and I were there when the male with the transmitter returned.

Re: WODU

E-mail & Photo I sent to Dick Tuttle:

Dick: A pair of ducks moved into one of your WODUs, as seen in this picture taken 1:30 pm March 24th, Saturday. Also alot of the nest-boxes on Lenordsburg Road are full also, I was there Sunday, March 25.

FRANK GERMANN

Osprey Platform #4: Nest Building in Ernest

E-Mail & Photos from Jim Martin:

Fellow Osprey Observers:

After being here only five days, the Osprey pair on Platform #4 (Alum Creek) have made short work of getting their nest prepared. The Osprey traveled a good distance from the nest to get the corncob & corn stalk for the nest. Also notice the grasses, a sign that copulation and egg-laying are not far away. This pair should have a head-start versus others that may arrive - same as last year.

Last I heard, March 23rd, the Osprey returning from Brazil SA was in Georgia, USA. Dick Phillip's prediction of an end of month arrival looks like the best estimate.

Observation Conditions:

Date: March 25, 0935-1103 Hours,

Skies: Mostly cloudy, low overcast and fog,

Temperatures: 68° to 72°,

Winds: Mild at 5-8 MPH,

Birds Present: Two adult Osprey, one Pileated Woodpecker,

Behavior: Nest building, fishing, bonding. Resting (both) on the perch for about a half hour.

Observers: State Parks Officer, three autos with 5 adults.

Equipment Used: Binoculars, Nikon Camera and Lens.

PS: Jim Duffy reported,between 1600-1730, that a small fishing boat with three fishermen, ignored the warning signs, got in close to this platform and caused the Osprey to leave the nest. With 22,500 acres of open waters, you would think these boneheads could find a fishing spot elsewhere. Perhaps they missed "reading" classes.

Best Wishes,

Jim Martin

1st Osprey is back at Alum Creek!!! & WODU

E-mail from Dick Tuttle

Hello Everyone, 
    Today, Wednesday 21 March 2007, I spotted a tired-looking Osprey on Alum Creek No. Four platform. The time was 1221.

I had just finished installing two high-rise Picasso Wood Duck cylinders along the North end of the lake and I wanted to see if I could easily see them from the cliff across from A.C. No. Three. You can only see the WODU cylinders if you know where to look because they are camouflaged and fancy while standing eight to nine feet above the vegetation.    

    As I glanced south I noticed a large bump on No. Four. Binoculars revealed an Osprey. The mania has started.  

Since I did not have enough white pine bedding with me for the third WODU box, I will go back to install it after I send this message. WODU will be installed along the creek east of Hogback. These boxes were originally installed in 1998 but the flood and ice pushed them into the ground three winters ago. Hopefully, they will raise Wood Ducks along with Tree Swallows while furnishing winter roost sites for Eastern Screech Owls. 

    Osprey on,   Dick Tuttle

Getting #4 back on it's feet.

E-mail & Photos from Jim Martin

Gents:

You did a great job today getting #4 back on it's feet. Congratulations are in order!

Others: After over of 5+ hours of slugging-it-out with the insufferable mud, carrying heavy poles & parts and reassembling and the resurrection - the platform is ready for the return of the Osprey.

Best Wishes,

Jim M.

E-mail & Photo from Jim Martin

E-mail from Jim Martin:
Hi Fellow Observers:

1. Migration: The Male Osprey remains in Brazil, S.A. He was 90 miles North of his over-winter Amazon River island location on the 6th of March. So, perhaps his migration back to Central Ohio has begun. Once he reaches Venezuela, S.A. we will know for certain.
2. Platform #4: The attached photo says it all as what it took to take down platform #4 along Hogback Road. The ice-flow had to be tremendous to rip several 4X6 boards and shred the remains in this manner. The chucks of ice along the creek bed are huge - some estimated (today) at 10' x 8' x 6". The photo was taken Sunday, 3/11/07 10:00.

Best Wishes,

Jim M.

Their Back, Osprey Platforms #1 Occupied !!! HA! HA!

E-Mail sent:

Picture of Platform #1, this Friday Morning!

Hopefully the ospreys show the geese the street.

Thanks
Frank Germann

Some More info on #4

E-mail from Dick Tuttle:


Hello Everyone, Frank Germann located the “very good” remains of Alum Creek No. Four. It is beached directly below the cliff at the pull over across from No. three. Apparently, it floated and was driven by the wind after being sheared off by ice at the lowest point of its joint. Thanks to Frank and Jim’s photos and my own inspection, the main support post looks like it can be used again. It is made of two sixteen-foot two by sixes and the middle post is 14 feet long. Arms from the anchor post are still connected as are three bolts that once held the joint together.

The present plan, which can change once Dick Phillips and I boat to the site, is to salvage the main pole and the platform, and anchor it near its original site for safe keeping. We will fit it to a new anchor post is the mud is manageable. So, far the weather reports sound favorable with a thaw so a current in the channel will carry away the debris. The platform is wedged in place, holding everything in place for now. The lake has six more inches to go before it is back to winter level. Give a few days with temps in the 50s and 60s and it is rock and roll time.

FYI - Dick observed two adult eagles when he stopped to survey the area today. First they were perched in a tree, then they ate a fish on the ice. Keep your eyes open for eagles near the Alum Creek Osprey platforms, especially if you see them carrying sticks.

I reinstalled 25 nest boxes at the Panhandle Road Grid today. Tomorrow AM, I plan to reinstall the Leonardsburg Road Grid and add several boxes to the swamp north of the Alum Creek Platforms. Maybe I can attract some swamp bluebirds along with some Prothonotaries. The seasons are almost here.

Dick Tuttle

More info Platform #4

E-mail sent by Jim Martin w/photos:

Mr. Tuttle & Mr. Phillips:

I went back to Hogback Rd. to get a few close-up photos of downed Platform #4 this morning (3/8/07). The downed platform is located below the lookout point on the cliff lookout just above platform #3. The top of Platform #4 looks in very good shape, considering everything that occurred. However, the base of this platform appears in need of a few replacement 2x6's, as the were torn off or wrecked when the ice flow hit them. A you can see it is lodged in the ice with most of the Platform above the ice flow. It appears to be about 20 yards off shore. I shrunk Frank Germann's photo that shows the Platform photo taken from Hogback Rd. perpendicular to Platform #3.

Frank, Thanks for your pictures from this morning - good work.

PS: Dave Sherman sent me the latest satellite telemetry data for the Male Osprey - he is still on location 150 miles South of the Equator in Brazil - on an island in the center of the river. The data was as of March 6 @ 09:30. This puts the Male about a week behind last year's departure date.

Best Wishes,

Jim Martin.

Osprey Platforms #4 found !!!

E-mail sent to Dick & others:

Platform #4 is almost directly east of #3, below the cliff at the top of Hogback Road, (where there is a pull off) 75 feet out. Insted of going south the #4 came back north. Thanks Frank Germann

Platform #3 by Jim Martin

E-mail sent by Jim Martin with photo

Dick & All:

Here is a photo of platform #3 along Hogback Rd. - the day following the heavy rains lifted and forced the ice flow along Alum Creek. All the ice in the creek bed was looks as if it were released in a single "move". The photo was taken yesterday during a heavy snowfall, so it is a bit fuzzy, but enough to give you an idea of the platform's status.

Best Wishes,

Jim M.

Nest #3 Leaning

This is a e-mail sent by Dick Tuttle on 3/4/07

Hello Everyone,
 A huge ice flow at Alum Creek took out No. four platform -- it is gone! Presently, Alum Creek Lake is 3-1/2 feet above winter level and the platform is most likely in the ice and debris near what I call "Big Bend," the last visible stretch of lake as seen from Hogback Rd.

 Platform No. three leans ten degrees but that will be relatively easy to correct. Dick Phillips and I have a good system for straightening the electric poles. We perfected a method after the high water/ice nightmare two winters ago.

 Also, 14 of 16 signs are down. Since only crusty snow encased the signs,
they should be found within ten feet of their original position unless the
flowing ice bulldozed them away.

 Here is our plan: We are going to construct a new platform at my home. The winter draw down season ends April 1, so once an opportunity window appears, we will act to install a new platform near its original spot at Alum Creek. First, the window must open, and we accept the fact that we will not be working on a frozen mud flat. It could be that the mud will prevent the activity needed to install the platform and then we will wait for next winter. There is much more to the plan, but this is the condensed version.

 Also, we will analyze ice scars in the mud to determine if there is a safer location for the pole and we might add concrete as an anchor. Honestly, I don't think anything but a different location could have saved the platform from the ice flow. One observer reported that an ice dam had developed near Kilbourne. Did it break loose all at once?

 We will use my wide canoe to tow elements to the site as we did for the Hoover Reservoir platform in September 2002 . By the way, the Hoover platform is surrounded by ice, relatively high on the pole. Once the ice starts to break up, add wind, and the results might not be good.   We would like to salvage the original pole and platform if it is seen again. For this we would most likely need a motorized boat, something that neither of us have. Also. if an opportunity window can be planned days ahead, then we would welcome able-bodied volunteers that don't mind doing crazy things.

 Remember, Med-Flight can land wherever we install osprey platforms.

 Raptor on,   Dick Tuttle

This is a e-mail I sent to Dick Tuttle, 3/2/07 at 11:08 AM

Dick:
I went by the ospreys nests on Hogback Road this morning.
Here is what I saw.

Frank Germann