Lower Vancouver Island Osprey Nests - 2019-2023 Seasons

[sassyk]

Dad was content to perch and watch the people on the fields below.

[JudyB]

2021 Cam Maintenance
Matching Drive

Hi everyone!

I've been thinking lately about how wonderful things can come in small packages - mighty eagles like these:

arrived in little packages like this:

(The adults are from French Creek, our newest nest, and the tiny chicks are Tiku and Tucca from Surrey Reserve being fed by Mom Res)


I'm also reminded of how small the window is for us to visit the nests and clean the cams while the eagles are away.

I have been focused on nest adoptions - but equally important are the smaller donations that may not be able to do that much all by themselves - but when they join with other donations, they can be mighty! I was outdoors yesterday during a fairly short but very powerful rainstorm - and it was amazing what all those little drops of water could do when they worked together!

We are only about halfway to our goal of $10,000 towards getting as many of our cams as possible cleaned this summer - and if everyone who reads this was able to donate $25 or $50 (or a bit more if possible) - I think we'd reach our goal.

A big
Thank You!
to all who have donated,
and to our wonderful zoomer teams,
and to all who help in other ways,
posting observations, screenshots, videos, and so much more.

PS - Donations are still being matched - the first $1000 pledge was quickly matched, but I have not been doing a good job of reminding people that there was a second pledge of $500, and so far we've only matched half of that. So at least the next $250 in donations will be matched.

Please help us clean the cams before the eagles return.

Click Here to Donate


Details about How to Donate

If you have questions, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]


Thank You!

[sassyk]

Thank you JudyB for all you do to keep the HWF forum and cams going for all of us to enjoy I have made a donation

[sassyk]

I visited the Juan de Fuca Osprey family on Aug. 10th. Both youngsters were exercising their wings but no adults were seen or heard.

[sassyk]

Juan de Fuca Osprey, Aug. 10th cont'd.

The youngsters continued to exercise their wings while waiting for fish to arrive

[sassyk]

I visited the Juan de Fuca Osprey family again on Aug. 11th. Mom was in the nest with the youngsters.

[sassyk]

I visited the Juan de Fuca Osprey family on Aug. 24th. The youngsters were in the nest preening and waiting for a meal to be delivered.

[sassyk]

Juan de Fuca Osprey, Aug. 24th cont'd.

Dad flew in with prey and a stick

[sassyk]

Juan de Fuca Osprey, Aug. 24th cont'd.

Dad quickly left the nest after the fish delivery and perched on a nearby light standard.

[sassyk]

Juan de Fuca Osprey, Aug. 24th cont'd.

One youngster eating, the 2nd one waiting its turn.

[sassyk]

Juan de Fuca Osprey, Aug. 24th cont'd.

One youngster continues to eat while the 2nd one waits patiently.

Dad continued to preen while perched on the nearby light standard.

The nictitating membrane is visible over his eye.

[sassyk]

Juan de Fuca Osprey, Aug. 24th cont'd.

I returned to the Osprey nest after I had visited the Esquimalt Lagoon. I was a bit surprised to see one of the youngsters sitting on the ground behind the bleachers near the nest. The 2nd youngster was nowhere to be seen or heard and I assumed it had fledged

I approached the youngster on the ground very slowly to determine if it had fallen from the nest or was injured. It soon flew off, very low, circling around the field and landing on the grass at the far end of the field.

The youngster flew off again, heading for a group of children at the other end of the field and landed on the fence a few feet from them They were all shouting and covering their heads with their arms

[sassyk]

Juan de Fuca Osprey, Aug. 24th cont'd.

The youngster flew off again, circled the field and landed.

[sassyk]

Juan de Fuca Osprey, Aug. 24th cont'd.

Last few photos of the youngsters. The fledged youngster flew across the field and landed on a light standard. The youngster on the ground flew up and after a couple of attempts landed on the same light standard. The fledged youngster flew off a few minutes later.

The youngster was still perched on the light standard when I left.

[sassyk]

I visited the Juan de Fuca Osprey nest on April 7th but did not see or hear any Osprey. It may be a little too early for the nesting season, but I will continue to visit the nest area.