Ospreys return to the same mate and same nest year after year. It is striking that at the beginning of each season, new sticks must be added to the nest, seemingly independent of the integrity of the established nest. Why this seasonal renovation?
• Winter damage: If the nest has deteriorated during the winter, now is the time for repairs.
• Parasites: There are often parasites left in a nest from a previous year. Some small birds handle this by building a new nest each spring. Other species add nesting material to an established base to provide a barrier between parasites and this year’s chicks.
• Nest stability: The stability of a nest, subject to the high winds of summer thunderstorms, does depend upon its mass. So, adding sticks helps.
An Osprey ferries in sticks to add to its nest at the beginning of the season.
A beautiful shot, Alistair! Looks to be a fairly long branch that he brought to the nest. I often see Ospreys flying over wooded areas but wonder how they manage to get the branches out from there? I would suspect they fly to a secluded clearing to get the branch off the ground. I did witness TR from the Grohman nest, land in a tree, the branch broke off so he brought it back to the nest.
it’s also a part of the bonding ritual I believe. Showing that female that he is a good provider.
Mary, quite possibly, but both males and females bring sticks to the nest. However, most of the arranging of them in the nest is done by females, if only because they spend more time there.
Yes. I saw a male show up at the nest without a stick and the female chased him off. He came back with a stick and they copulated.
I have seen Eagles in the Campbell River actually breaking branches off by dive bombing and grabbing the appropriate branch.
Bob, ospreys will do the same thing. In addition to picking sticks off the ground they will forcefully break branches off trees.
I saw this happen on the Wolf Bay AL cam. you could see the Osprey fly at the tree and grab a branch. Next thing you know, it’s on the nest.