Are the eggs ever going to hatch? Has something gone wrong? Is it time to panic?
I consulted local author, Jane Scott (Between Ocean and Bay: a Natural History of Delmarva, and Field and Forest, A Guide to Native Plant Communities for Gardeners and Naturalists) and here’s what she said.
“Eggs usually hatch in about 39 days but may be anywhere from 35 to 43, so it should happen soon, but perhaps we don’t need to panic yet. About 2-3 days or so before hatching you may see the first cracks but even after you can see the chick’s bill in the hole, it may still take him 12 hours or so to completely emerge. Because the eggs are laid sequentially, they also hatch sequentially, and sometimes the first and bigger ones hog all the food to the detriment of later ones. Not much you can do about that!”
So, it’s just taking longer than expected. Whew. I feel better, and I hope you do, too. Nonetheless, nature has her own agenda. Fingers crossed!
Watch the OspreyCam here
The Spy is launching a “Name the Chicks” contest. This will give you something to think about as you webcam gaze in the coming weeks.The reader to suggest the best three baby bird names will win a pair of Nikon 7223 Action 16 x 50 mm binoculars. This is a really snazzy pair of spyglasses that you can try at home for “on your own” bird surveillance. Please add your nominations in the comment section below. The winner will be selected by May 28.
Outstanding!
Wow, this is nifty! It’s almost 1 a.m. and there’s a lot of movement from the one bird seen. (I wonder why.) The infrared lighting really doesn’t have any adverse effects on these birds?
No, Marge, birds can’t see infrared lighting. But I’m impressed that you were tuning in at 1 a.m.; I haven’t made it past 11:30 yet!
This is a very nice resource. I’m watching from France and thinking of the osprey near Quincy, California that kept me enthralled when I was younger. Good job!
This live streaming is extraordinary! Don’t write off that third egg yet—more often than not, the ospreys in the nest near our house have successfully raised three fledglings. The young ones usually leave in early September.
love the Osprey-cam. no lag time, great image. the next generation needs a lens windshield wiper; unless the osprey are worried about their wrinkles, and like the soft blur to help them look young; probably hard to get up there and clean the lens without disrupting the entire process.
I don’t subscribe to Twitter. How can I watch the nest through the webcam.
You can watch the nest at this link.
then click to enlarge.
http://www.atlanticsecurityinc.com/video.htm
I can’t be in MD this weekend, but watching this brings me to that place your beautiful state has to offer. Just last summer my husband and I discovered its beauty and the Chester river, thank you so much for this, It warms my heart.
The bird who has been on the nest has just been relieved c.2:30 p.m. but is still perched on the edge while the new guy settles down. So thrilling to see the flutter of those great wings as it swept in.Are those small streaks of blue in nest bits of plastic bags? M.W.
I’ve been watching the Bald Eagle and Osprey nests at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge for a few years now and sharing them with students- this is GREAT to have some even closer to home now!
I’m hooked…that’s the simple truth. Thank you for this wonderful site. The Spy just keeps getting better and better…
I’m not really a “bird watcher” but certainly do enjoy them when I see them and I can REALLY see them here! I used to always be trying to take photos of any wildlife with a regular digital camera. I finally bought one with an 18 power zoom so I can get “closer” without disturbing them. I get some good shots but nothing like this! It’s great!
I’m the mom to the Kelly that is watching in France. (See above.) I live on the west coast… so interesting to think we are seeing the same live broadcast of these birds at the same time.
this is great. I just tuned in and a bird is in it’s nest. I’ll be addicted soon.
Okay, the bird will be in it’s nest for a while–I get it. And I am addicted to this now, and sent it to friends and posted it on Facebook–I hope we don’t overload the site.
Is there no way to include SOUND with the feed?
Been watching for a couple weeks!
Love it!
I’d like to get in on the naming of these new guys:
1) Chip (for the one that chirps the most)
2) Flynn (for the one that is the most thin)
3) Mata (just cause it’s a cool sounding)
MRS. O.(I THINK) JUST SWOOPED IN CARRYING A LARGE BOUQUET OF LEAVES,AND HAS BEEN REARRANGING THE NEST. MR. O. HAS FLOWN OFF. SHE FINALLY SETTLED DOWN. I WAS AFRAID THE EGGS WOULD BE GETTING COLD ON THIS CHILLY DAY.
My name vote: Live. Long. and Prosper.
Chester – Choptank and Nanticoke
I love the osprey cam can not wait to see the eggs hatched
My vote for names Rock Chester and Kent
My vote for names are: Oswald, Fisher and Striker.
How about “Perchy,, and Rocky and Sunny”…………for the fish they will eat, later on…………..
1. Yoko
2. Egbert
3. Frozen
Jonathan Livingston Osprey, Paddington Osprey, and Felix the Osprey
George, Franklin and Harriet
Nisos, Pliny and Albertus (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osprey – scroll down to cultural depictions) Plus – my Dad’s name was Albert
!. Oscar
2. Ray Ray
3. Ray Rice
Some fantastic names above, very funny and quite fitting. Here are mine:
Beaker. I think this one should be the smallest.
Talonius. He will be the most tenacious.
Zacharius. Just because
My three names:
Margo
Mabel
and Bill
should be obvious.
Now which one gets booted?
George, Martha, and William (Smith)
i think they should be named 1.Niko 2. Twitter an last but not least 3. Majestic
From Facebook another couple of entries:
Trena Salverda Williamson
Hewie, Dewie & Lewie
Thursday at 10:59am · · Report
Chick…Chack…Chuck
Alfred, Tippi, and Mitch
Kent, Anne (or Queen) and Chester
Chester, Webster and Truman
1. Rosie
2. Spottie
3. Greenie
1. Brian
2. Dave
3. Madison
Skip, Jack & Bugeye
1. Swish (for Swish Nicholson)
2. Jimmy (for James M. Cain)
3. Shemp (he’s not from Chestertown like the other two, but he usually has trouble cracking the top three)
After the waters surrounding Kent County:
1) Chessie
2) Chester
3) Sassie
still no chicks. I saw three eggs this morning, 11:32 am as she re-arranged her nest, but no hatchlings yet.
Suggested names for baby chicks:
1. Inky
2. Dinky
3. Do
How can one tell which is the female and which is the male ?
One was just doing alot of complaining while rearranging the straw.
Wynken, Blinken, and Nod from the lullaby by Eugene Field about fishermen fishing for herring:
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod (Dutch Lullaby)
by Eugene Field (1850-1895)
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe—
Sailed on a river of crystal light,
Into a sea of dew.
“Where are you going, and what do you wish?”
The old moon asked the three.
“We have come to fish for the herring fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we!”
Said Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
The old moon laughed and sang a song,
As they rocked in the wooden shoe,
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish
That lived in that beautiful sea—
“Now cast your nets wherever you wish—
Never afeard are we”;
So cried the stars to the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
All night long their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinkling foam—
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
Bringing the fishermen home;
‘T was all so pretty a sail it seemed
As if it could not be,
And some folks thought ‘t was a dream they ‘d dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea—
But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is a wee one’s trundle-bed.
So shut your eyes while mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea,
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
i think they should be named 1.Niko 2. Twitter an last but not least 3. Majestic
My entry for names-
1.Jazz
2. Spinner
and last but not least-
3. Ozzie the Osprey
Can’t wait to see them!
The first to hatch is ALPHA
The last to hatch is OMEGA
The one in between is BETWEENA
referred to all at once as Betweena, Alpha, and Omega
1) Cazador (“hunter” in Spanish)
2) Jager (“hunter” in German)
3) Chasseur (“hunter” in French)
Loving watching the nest at any hour, day or night.
My names are from an old R & B song, Flip Flop and Fly by Big Joe Turner.
Are there only 2 eggs now??!!
I saw three last night!
I second the Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.
This is the most addicting show I’ve ever watched!!
Folks, it’s entirely possible that they may not make it…such is life and death in the animal world.
Me too for Wynken Blynken and Nod.
Mary says – I like Alpha,Omega and in Betweena
Here goes… how about Ozzy, Harriet and Thorny. “Ozzy the Osprey” has a nice ring to it — “Harriet” not so much and “Thorny”, well… needed a third.
How can one tell which is the female and which is the male ?
One was just doing alot of complaining while rearranging the straw.
thanks for the vote Mary. I see a nest on the Severn River where the partner sits in a sailboat rigging with blackbirds. They each mind their own business but those blackbirds are always just a few feet away. Waiting for fish scraps perhaps?
Ospreys sing so well…how about Crosby, Stills and Nash?
How about Larry, Moe and Curly?
name nominations: I suggest Castro, Castelli and Massoni
How about Late, Later and Latest?
What about Ossie, Harrier & Rikki (suitable for either sex)?
1.Niko 2.Twitter 3.Majestic
So many ideas…
1. Manny, Mo and Jack
2. Marshall, Will and Holly
3. Jack, Janet and Chrissy
4. George Foreman
How about Veni, Vidi, and Vici? (“I came, I saw, I conquered,” by Caesar)?
Geroge Foreman is very funny.
I love Moo’s “George Foreman.” OK, I’m chiming in with some Latin, viz. Volo (fly), Dominatus (rule), and Caelum (sky).
Chester, Morgan, and Reed
Has anyone seen the eggs lately? Do we still have three? Will they ever hatch?
And I still love Margo, Mabel and Bill for names.
Ah, I just saw the eggs. At least two still there.
I’m getting a bit concerned that these things are NEVER going to hatch! I just saw all three eggs … still unhatched!
WHEN WILL THEY HATCH!!!! I think the names should be: Lucy, Caroline, and Spencer.
Do…..Re…..Mi
The OspreyCam WebLog at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge has excellent information about Osprey:
http://friendsofblackwater.org/wordpress/osprey10/
Alvin, Simon and Theodore
Guess too many people are trying to watch as the site for the cam was temporarily unavailable or too busy! Sniff
I vote for Huey, Dewey and Louie if there are three. If only two, then George and Martha!
May I suggest Lexrst, Dirk, and the Professor as potential names for our new friends?
Shining
Freedoms
Answers
1.Yerkes
2.Atlantic
3.Castro
Air , Water and Land.
Sorry I thnik the names should be :
-Air
-Water
-Soil
Or the best translation (my english is not very good)
you all have such cute names , id like to add three. Winkin Blinkin and Nod thanks for your great cam
Friends
Fly
Free
Yakko, Wakko, and Dot.
Peace, Love, and Joy.
Peter, Wendy, and Tink.
BJ, CJ, and DJ.
Rosco, Pea & Coltrane
AJ, BJ, and CJ is a better trio.
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
Peter, Paul and Mary
Arlyn (meaning “water battle”)
Calder (“violent water”)
Hydra (“water dragon”)
Osprey nest near water so they can go to war with water to “win” fish
Ok– I’ve been pondering names and here we go:
1. Apollo
2. Poseidon
3. Zeus or……(more greek gods)
1. Pontos (God of the sea, father of the fish….. kind of appropriate)
2. Chronos (The keeper of time…since we are ALL waiting….)
3. Chaos (The nothingness from which all else sprang…can’t wait to see what comes from that nothingness…)
Rosco, Pea & Coltrane
I hope I’m not too late. How about Fergus or Inga or Angus or Fiona or Deirdre
Name ‘em all Godot
Editor’s Note: The Osprey Cam is experiencing some technical problems with the video feed. Atlantic Security is aware of the problem and hope to resolve this soon. The Chestertown Spy apologizes for this inconvenience.
Thanks for the update on the video feed. Hope it’s fixed soon. Have so enjoyed watching the Osprey!
Eggbert, Shelly and Yoko! (a la “Ice Age, Dawn of the Dinosaur)
Did I just see a baby bird!? Is everyone else already in bed?
I cant wait to see the little guys when they hatch! This is so much more addictive than any television show!
At least one has hatched!!! Adorable!!!
Watching the osprey cam sure negates the depressing effects of watching the oil spill cam!
BTW, I “vote” for Dusty’s names: Alpha, Omega, and Inbetweena.
Can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed this site the last few weeks since I’ve ‘found’ it. Looking forward to next year!!
I, too, have thoroughly enjoyed your livecam this past season, and I’ve shared it with others. I wish the best of luck in safe migrations for this osprey family, and I look forward to the parents safe return in March for another awesome season!