There is nothing more important to an Osprey than it's nest. It is an investment for the future and the glue that keeps the family together. Nests are used year after year and passed down to the next generation. The birds continually work on their nests all season adding sticks, twigs, and softer materials. to keep up with the changing form of the nest as the season progresses. At the start of the season they build up the nest and make a a indented egg cup. As the chicks develop and move about the nest, the sides flatten but a rim is still maintained. By fledge time, the nest is flat and ready to be a landing zone. The Ospreys return the next year to reshape the nest and make a new nest cup. The cycle continues and the nest grows through the years reaching 300-500 lbs. or heavier.
The function of bringing grass to the nest mid season is probably to sweeten the floor of the nest as Dave mentioned, covering up nest debris, but I've never seen a discussion of it. Parents working new sticks into the nest probably demonstrates to the nestlings the basics of nest building. As the chicks mature, they become more interested in the nest and help to move sticks around. Candace On Fri, Jun 30, 2023 at 9:24 AM Dave Nutter <nutter.d...@me.com> wrote: > Recently I also saw an Osprey bringing a double fistful of grass to the > nest in the field NW of Allan Treman marina, when there were young in the > nest who are half grown. I think it’s normal. I don’t know the function, > and maybe someone more knowledgeable can say whether it helps cool the > nest, or make it more comfortable, or cover the remains of fish meals, or > deter parasites, or some other benefit. Earlier in the season I have also > seen an Osprey bring a double fistful of soggy brown (rotten?) vegetation > from a nearby waterway, perhaps as nest lining before eggs are laid. > Ospreys also continue to bring sticks to add to the nest even when there > are eggs or young in the nest, which to me seems a bit awkward and risky, > but that’s the perspective of someone who is no good at fishing or flying, > so who am I to judge? > > - - Dave Nutter > > On Jun 30, 2023, at 8:50 AM, Sandra Lynn Babcock <slb...@cornell.edu> > wrote: > > On Sunday I was driving down Game Farm Road when I saw an Osprey flying > low. I pulled over in the turnout by the soccer field, and the Osprey > swooped down in front of the car, picked up two large talons-full of > nesting material, and flapped up to the nesting platform by the field. I > was sure they wouldn't nest there this year because of all the > construction, even though they've been there in years past. And isn't this > quite late for them to be building a nest? > > Happy birding, > Sandra > > Sandra Babcock > slb...@cornell.edu > > Sent from my Ipad > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- > > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
