ODNR link -2007 TM Migration South

Here is a link to the Ohio Department Of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Web page with the Osprey male (TM) from nest #1, Hogback Road, Heading south for the winter. (He'll be back!)

Looks like as of today he is just off the coast of Columbia, South America.

2007 TM heading South

Frank Germann

Osprey Platform Cleaning and Sign Maintenance

E-mail and 2 photos from Jim Marin
One photo from Frank Germann

Hello Fellow Naturalists & Conservationists:

Today, Sept. 25, 2007, Dick Phillips and Dick Tuttle took advantage of the largely drawn-down Alum Creek Reservoir. Alum Creek was but a trickle flowing into the reservoir. Frank Germann and I were there to record the day's activities.

Three of the four Osprey Platforms along Hogback Road required minor alignments and cleaning. The nests were removed (to keep the Canadian Geese from a hostile take over) and prepared for next season's breeding season.

In contrast to last February's weather, which was very cold & windy, today's work was much more enjoyable and was completed in about 1 and a quarter hours.

Best Wishes, Jim Martin

My last photo of Osprey on Hogback Road, 2007.

The last time I saw any of the ospreys at Alum Creek was Tuesday, September 11th at 8 am till I left an hour or so later, this was at nest #1 on Hogback Road. (The youngster was there Monday morning also in the heavy fog sitting on the perch.)

One of the young was on the roost squawking about ever 5 minutes or so. Papa showed up a half hour later with a very small fish, which he gave the young one. Something did not seem right with the young one, it seemed to try and eat the fish, but cried and cried. The male had landed on the ground for 15 minutes or so, then went to the dead tree south of the nest. He stayed there for another 20 minutes, then flew south, where he hovered near nest #4 for 5 minutes, before disappearing.

After he left the young one stop crying. I watched another 10 minutes or so before heading into work.

I've stopped down about every morning since, but no osprey to be found. There are still herons, egrets, geese, Killdeers and some shore birds to be seen.

The male (TM) is probably in Cuba or South America by now.

I'm still taking photos, look for a sideshow next week.

Frank Germann

2007 Osprey Migration South - Sept 14-17

E-mail & graphic form Jim Martin:

Hello Fellow Naturalists & Conservationists:

The Male Osprey (TM) begun his Wintering migration to Brazil on Sept 14, 2007. He took a somewhat circuitous route by leaving Alum Creek and traveling to Lake Erie, 27 miles East of Cleveland, Ohio. From there he flew South to the Ohio-Kentucky boarder, onto central Tennessee then to southern Georgia. The last telemetry data showed he was ~50 miles from the northern boarder of Florida on Sept 17 at 07:37.

All in all he has traveled 850+ miles. Between Sept 16 (01:00) and Sept 17 (01:30) he flew nearly 300 miles. He averaging ~213 miles per day(4).

Attached is a Google Earth© map that shows his progress. A special thanks to Dave Sherman for the satellite telemetry data.

Best Wishes,

Jim Martin

Osprey Summer Season Draws To A Close - Alum Creek Res.

E-mail & photo from Jim Martin:

Fellow Naturalists and Observers:

The Osprey's Summering Season is drawing to a close, right on schedule. Mr(s) Tuttle and Phillips predicted that September 15th would be the approximate date that the Osprey would begin their journey to the Amazon River in Brazil. Turns out that was a very accurate prediction. The last two Osprey, the Transmitting Male (TM) and one of it's two youngsters were the last to be observed at Platform #1 on Hogback Rd, Alum Creek Reservoir. The five Osprey from Platform #4 have been gone from the site for about two week, as were the Female and other Youngster from Platform #1. The breeding season was a real success as the two breeding pair produced five babies, all of which fledged. The was one unhatched egg on platform #1 - Dick Phillips says that this is not an unusual occurrence.

The attached Alum Creek sunrise photo shows the water level surrounding platform #1 - below Winter Draw-down levels. This left the TM Osprey with limited nearby fishing territory. We often observed him returning from afar with a meal for the "begging" youngster. Perhaps of a minor concern, we never observed this last youngster fish on it's own.

Once Dave Sherman from ODNR begins sending the satellite telemetry data, I'll send out a quick status report of the Male's location/dates. The trip to Brazil will be about 3,500 miles from Central Ohio.

Best Wishes, Jim Martin.

Swift Counts - Tuttle - 7, 8, 9 Sept. 2007 - Delaware Co., Ohio

E-Mail from Dick Tuttle:

Hello Everyone,

I must pose a question after I report the following observations:

On Friday and Saturday nights, I counted Chimney Swifts entering the brick chimney at the National Guard Armory in Delaware, Ohio.

The 7 September 2007 count was routine with temperatures in the high seventies under partly cloudy skies. Between 19:43 and 20:17, 720 swifts entered the chimney.

On 8 September, I had returned from a Fall Warbler Symposium held near Lake Erie to arrive at the parking lot at Tim Horton's Restaurant to watch the armory's chimney at 19:36. A heavy, steady rain was falling and since I saw no birds, I left to buy a newspaper. I returned at 19:44 to find that hundreds of swifts had arrived.

During a steady downpour with lightning, I sat in my idling car with the windshield wipers running and counted 233 swifts as they entered the chimney between 19:44 and 19:58. I estimate that an additional 100 birds circled the chimney, but left to roost elsewhere.

I stayed until 20:15 to make sure that no new birds showed up. The storm made for an early, dark night and it is possible that swifts entered before my arrival at 19:36.

On 9 September, I journeyed to the small village of Galena to count swifts entering the brick chimney there at the United Methodist Church. Three vehicles of watchers arrived to count ONLY SEVEN BIRDS entering the large chimney between 20:00 - 20:11. The temperature approached eighty degrees under partly cloudy skies.

Hundreds of swifts were in the area, however. Dick Phillips noticed that scores of birds were entering one of four brick chimneys at the same two-story home southwest of the church. After watching many swifts disappear into the chimney, he started counting to record an additional 189. Dick estimates that 300 or more swifts must have entered the chimney.

Why did swifts snub the popular church chimney? I offer the following hypothesis: Since the chimney shelters hundreds of swifts nightly, guano deposits must be rather deep there. Heavy rains during the previous several days and nights might have reacted with the guano to percolate ammonia from ammonium hydroxide, causing a gaseous micro environment that became intolerable to the birds. From experience, I know that ammonia's stench is common in American Kestrel nest boxes when nestlings are present. Also, research has revealed that when compared to other avian species, swifts have a keen sense of smell. How this hypothesis could be tested was the conversation between two retired science teachers before we went our separate ways.

Swift on, and keep your guano dry.
Dick Tuttle

How Do You Clear Every Form Of Wildlife At Alum Creek Res.?

E-mail & photos from Jim Martin:

Howdy:

For the first hour everything was peaceful and calm at the Osprey viewing location along Alum Creek Reservoir. The remaining single young Osprey at platform #1 was peacefully awaiting nightfall. The White Egrets and Great Blue Herons were enjoying the gentle flowing waters (for first time is weeks) coming from the upstream creek bed.

Then off in the distance, at the Preservations Parks viewing location, I heard the most unsuspected clatter. A veritable cacophony of harsh, jarring, and discordant sounds about a half mile away. The reservoir's topography provided a perfect amphitheater for the crescendos. Within seconds every living creature was on the move, including me. I drove to the cliff to meet a budding artist who was not there to practice his percussion-isitics, rather to get a few promotional photos. Brandon Burdette and his girl friend had set up shop at the site and photos were snapped. Brandon gets ten points for originality, 2 demerits for disruption of tranquility.

Back to business - The five frequent Osprey Observers all agree that the Female and one of the two youngsters has left the area - platform #1. Perhaps they have headed South to the Amazon River in Brazil, or just relocated to a spot where there is a more abundant food supply. The two of them have not been seen in two+ weeks. Similarly, I have not seen the Parents from platform #4 in at least a week. I do see an occasional youngster at platform #4. Migration dates are predicted around September 15th so there is a chance that some have already left for their Wintering location just South of the equator. PS: The Male Osprey (TM) from platform #1 is still feeding the remaining youngster. We are moderately concerned that the little one has not learned to hunt.

It is almost time for Dave Sherman-ODNR to fire-up his satellite tracking gear as the Transmitting Male Osprey should be departing soon.

Best Wishes,
Jim Martin
Sept. 9, 2007.

Chimney Swift Counts - Tuttle - Delaware Co, Ohio

E-Mail from Dick Tuttle:

Hello Everyone,

I haven't reported swift observations since 16 August 2007 when a raccoon had become a nuisance to Chimney Swifts trying to roost in the brick chimney at the Ohio National Guard Armory in Delaware, Ohio. Apparently, the ring-tailed rascal found another place to hang out since it has only been seen once since. Nonetheless, here is a list of swift counts from the same chimney. Generally, I have been trying to count swifts on an average of once every two days. I present a fragment of my data since I am leaving out weather conditions and times.

• 17 August, 351 swifts
• 18 August, 572 swifts
• 22 August, 456 swifts
• 24 August, 326 swifts
• 25 August, 333 swifts
• 28 August, 153 swifts
• 30 August, 161 swifts
• 01 September, 281 swifts
• 04 September, 769 swifts
• 06 September, 585 swifts

Also, on 2 September 2007, I counted 424 swifts enter the chimney at the United Methodist Church in Galena, Ohio.

For the second round of the "Swift Night Out" continent-wide event (www.chimneyswifts.org), I plan to count at the armory on Friday, September 7, beginning at 7:30 PM. I will be in Galena on Sunday, September 9.

Swift on, Dick Tuttle

Comments on postings by Tuttle

E-mail from Dick Tuttle:

Frank and Jim,

Today's postings on the blog were refreshing because they featured mostly people -- the other half of what happens along Hogback Rd.

Frank, glad to see you included Jim's account of you receiving your well-deserved hat. And the goose hunters, they are part of the story, also.

The people, wildlife and other aspects of nature attracts many players onto the stage along Hogback Road.

Dick Tuttle

Goose Hunter Improv

E-mail and photo from Jim Martin:

Howdy:

I could not resist this photo opportunity. My last goose hunter photo (also attached (see previous post)) "from this location" showed a very sophisticated pair of hunters (canoe photo) with full battle regalia. This photo shows the other end of the investment spectrum. This fellow used the low-tech low-cost approach to putting-up his decoys. Notice the plastic trash bags uniquely configured to resemble grazing geese. This fellow, hands down, wins the goose decoy improvisation award. Evenings of Sept. 2nd and 4th, 2007, Hogback Rd. - Alum Creek Res.

PS: No Geese showed, no shots fired, still one clever setup, one make-do hunter. You got to love human ingenuity.

Best Wishes,
Jim Martin.

Hunting Season - #2

E-mail and photo from Jim Martin:

Hello:

This photo was taken about platform #4 at the Preservation Parks Osprey viewing site (Sept. 2, 2007). The two hunters were about 300 yards South of the Osprey platform #4 along Hogback Rd. - Alum Creek Res. The hunters were there for three+ hours.

• One huge US Navy style canoe,
• Two very well equipped & prepared hunters,
• Three Goose calling devices,
• Two 12 Gauge shotguns @ with a two shot clip & one in the chamber,
• 16 homemade Goose decoys, with rope & weights,
• Many square yards of Camouflage netting,
• Two Camouflage hunter suits including gloves, hats, coats, head cover and pants,
• and a huge pickup truck to haul all the stuff.

Day Two Score: Geese ~200 - Hunters zero.

Not one shot was taken. Several flocks flew-by, all too high to take aim. No landings.

Best Wishes,

Jim Martin

Alum Creek Osprey Update

E-mail and photo from Jim Martin:

Howdy:

All goes well at the Alum Creek Osprey site. Dick Tuttle & I arrived early to witness how the Osprey would react to Goose hunting season's opening day. After a few shotgun firings, one close-by, the Osprey, young and parents seemed just fine.

The geese however behaved quite differently. At least 5 flocks (200+) flew over and circled around the area and never landed. They all flew in from the North, probably from Delaware lake where guns were blazing.

The attached photo shows a bathing youngster taken ~2 hours after our arrival (09:48) and after several guns were heard.

Best Wishes;
Jim Martin

Blog Creator, Osprey Photographer and Friend.

E-mail and photo from Jim Martin:

Thanks for the nice words and the hat!!!! Frank Germann

Hello Fellow Naturalist and Conservationists:

The attached photo is of Frank Germann, creator of the Osprey Blog "Osprey & All Things Wild Delaware County, Ohio" located here: http://osprey.rabbitquick.com/index.html

Frank has been taking high quality photos of the Alum Creek Osprey site for a few years and this breeding season decided to develop a blog featuring the Osprey. The site has had visitors from around the world numbering is the hundreds, perhaps thousands. Frank's web site contains up to date photos and descriptions regarding the Osprey habitat, feeding habits and records the youngsters growth from birth-to-migration. Last evening Aug. 31, 2007, Jim & Elaine Martin, Dick Tuttle and Troy Alpeter presented Frank with a token of appreciation from Dave Sherman of ODNR Division of Wildlife and us. The "Osprey Observer" cap is a well deserved "thanks" for all the time and effort that Frank put forth to allow web site visitors become more educated and involved in the Osprey re-introduction program in Ohio, USA. Frank also printed out business cards that we all hand out to people that stop by the Alum Creek to view the Osprey. These business cards have Frank's Blog web site address on them. From All Of Us - Thanks Frank!

We also want to thank Dave Sherman, Wildlife Biologist, for providing us with the congratulatory cap for Frank.

Thanks Frank, Jim and Friends.