Ospreys Spring Migration
Our nesting ospreys are flying back from their winter “break.”
Each pair had their own winter break, feeding in separate locations, often hundreds of miles apart. Their fidelity is to the nest site.
Ospreys begin to head “home” in late February or early March, depending on where the osprey spends the winter. Adult birds who have an established nest location (or home) may make the journey north in as little as 8 days.
The older the bird, the more experienced they are in making the difficult migration. They take fewer risks, like waiting for storms to past. They tend to limit the amount of times they fly over open water, choosing routes that stay over land.
Just like you might have a favorite restaurant or rest area you stop at on a regular trip, so do ospreys. They remember the location of good fishing spots, and will often make the same “pit stop” every year.
Once back home, osprey pairs get down to the business of raising a family. Pairs that are established, who have been nesting together for a few years, will do little to no courtship. Young pairs might perform courtship rituals when they return. Most common is for the male to deliver a fish to the female.
When not fishing, males will collect nesting material to bring back to the site. This will consist of sticks, large clumps of grasses, and even “junk”, such as fishing poles, plastic bags and anything that looks good to them. Females must build up their energy reserves to make eggs. When not feeding, she will arrange the materials her mate delivers to make the nest.
During the first few weeks back, neither pair may spend much time at the site. However, both will keep an “eye” on their home. Other ospreys, generally young adults, may also look to use an established nest site rather than build a new one. The male will fight off other males. The female will fight off other females.
If weather and feeding conditions are favorable, females will lay their first egg in mid to late April, and generally lay a total of 3 eggs. Once the first egg is laid, she will spend most of her time on the nest. She will only get off the nest to eat a fish that her mate brings to her. While eating, he will sit on the eggs until she returns.