Osprey Season Summary August 8, 2024
By: Reese Lukei Jr., Board Member, Back Bay NWR Society
This 2024 Osprey Season Summary contains data related to production of young Osprey from known active nests where data was obtained from egg laying to fledging. It does not contain data about inactive nests or nests where data was incomplete such as the entrance road pole platform nest (BB#23 – OW # 4321).
Active Nests
Osprey Banding July 3, 2024
The final trip this season to band Osprey nestlings was conducted on Wednesday July 3, 2024 by Refuge staff Lauren Mobray (Supervisory Biologist) and Sydnie Matkins, Doug Miller (boat captain) and Catherine Miller refuge volunteers, and Reese F. Lukei, Jr (bander) refuge volunteer and Research Associate at The Center for Conservation Biology at the College of Willian & Mary.
Nesting Banding:
Nest #24 (OW #7735) west of the Visitor Center contained two nestlings age 30 days and one unhatched egg
Location GPS 36.6725, -75.9192
Purple auxiliary band # 53/E, USGS band #1088-04676, weight 1330 grams, crop 1/2
Purple auxiliary band # 54/E, USGS band #1088-04677, weight 1250 grams, crop 3/4
Nest # 7B (OW #9830) Bush Island Cove – South contained three nestlings age about 35 days
Location GPS 36.6665, -75.9175
Purple auxiliary band # 55/E, USGS band #1088-04678, weight 1330 grams, crop 1/4
Purple auxiliary band # 56/E, USGS band #1088-04679, weight 1260 grams, crop 3/4
Purple auxiliary band # 57/E, USGS band #1088-04680, weight, 1290 grams, crop Full
Reese F. Lukei, Jr.
Research Associate
The Center for Conservation Biology
Federal Bird Band Permit # 21567-K
Osprey Banding June 22, 2024
By: Reese Lukei Jr., Board Member, Back Bay NWR Society
The banding of Osprey nestlings was conducted on Saturday June 22, 2024, at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The survey was conducted by refuge volunteer and boat captain Charlie Ellin, USFWS refuge interns and refuge volunteers. In charge of the banding process was Reese Lukei, Jr, refuge volunteer and Research Associate at The Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William & Mary.
Two trips were made from the dock behind the Visitor Center.
Summary:
7 nests checked
1 nest with 3 nestlings banded
2 nests with nestlings too young to band
1 nest with nestlings too high to safely access
3 failed nests
The banding of Osprey nestlings was conducted on Saturday June 22, 2024 at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge by boat captain Charlie Ellin, refuge volunteer, and Reese Lukei, Jr, refuge volunteer and Research Associate at The Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William & Mary.
wo trips were made from the dock behind the Visitor Center. The first group was USFWS interns Layne Houk, Seth Kite, Hannah Carden and Sarah Montague. This trip went south from the dock.
The first nest checked was #30 on Long Island. On May 16, 2024 this nest contained 3 eggs. Today this nest was empty – a failed nest – reason not known. No dead nestlings nor any sign of egg shells.
Nest #2 (OW #7760) on May 16 had 3 eggs and today had 3 nestlings about 35 days of age. Location GPS 36.65472, -75.91667 The 3 nestlings were banded as follows:
Purple auxiliary band #45/E, USGS band #1088-04646, weight 1498,grams, crop full
Purple auxiliary band #46/E, USGS band #1088-04647, weight 1340 grams, crop empty
Purple auxiliary band #47/E, USGS band #1088-04648, weight 1604 grams. crop full
Nest #7B on May 16 contained 3 eggs and today had 3 nestlings about 3 weeks old, too young to band.
The second group was Catherine and Doug Miller, Cheryl Caloras and John Spallone. This group went north from the dock.
Nest #24 on May 16 contained 3 eggs and today had 2 nestlings about 3 weeks old, too young to band.
Nest #P1 on May16 contained 1 egg and 2 just hatched nestlings. Today this nest was empty – a failed nest – reason not known. No dead nestlings and no sign of egg shells
Nest #P2 on May 16 contained 2 eggs and 1 just hatched nestling. Today this nest had 3 nestlings about 35 days of age, but the nest platform is too high to safely access and in very poor condition.
Nest #P3 on May 16 contained 3 eggs but today the nest was empty. No dead nestling nor sign of egg shells. Both adults were on the nest when we arrived a possible indication of recent nest failure.
Osprey Nesting Platform Survey
Posted: June 13, 2024 by Back Bay NWR Society
By: Reese Lukei Jr., Board Member, Back Bay NWR Society
Among the Society’s many projects is the osprey platform program, in which the Society builds, maintains and surveys osprey platforms.
Osprey are commonly seen raptors at this time of year in our region. When identifying an osprey look for a brown back and wings, white chest and belly and a brown stripe extending down the head from the eye. Osprey are fish-eaters and are seen fishing over both fresh and salt water.
Osprey nests at Back Bay NWR were surveyed today, May 15, 20204, to determine number of active nests with eggs and nestlings. The survey was conducted by Charlie Ellin, Sydnie Matkins, Layne Houk and Reese Lukei, Jr.
These results indicate that potential banding of nestlings should be about June 17- 21.
Results:
Seven active nests
18 eggs
3 nestlings
Nest #24 – 3 eggs
Nest #30 – 3 eggs
Nest #2 – 3 eggs
Nest #7B – 3 eggs
Nest #P1 – 1 egg, 2 nestlings
Nest #P2 – 2 eggs, 1 nestling
Nest #P3 – 3 eggs
Photos by: Photo Credits: Reese Lukei and USFWS
Osprey Nesting Platform Survey
Posted: February 11, 2024 by Back Bay NWR Society
By: Charlie Eileen, Board Member, Back Bay NWR Society
Monday January 15th, 2024 was the perfect day for this season’s first osprey nesting platform survey; winds were calm, water very high and temperatures in the mid 40’s. The purpose of this survey was to assess the need for and accomplish any structural repairs necessary and to add a few sticks where needed to make the platforms more inviting to returning osprey couples.
Our team this year, responding on very short notice as such perfect days are difficult at best to forecast this time of year, consisted of John Spallone, Cheryl Caloras, Gabe Olszak, and myself. We left my house at about noon and returned around 3:00 pm.
Owing to perfect weather conditions, especially the high water, we were able to survey all our platforms including those deep into Bush Island Cove and Wash Flats. Results of the survey are included in the attached updated data sheet. Two of the platforms required minor structural repair, a couple platforms may need replacing within the next few years, and 4 of the platforms had evidence of activity during the 2023 season.
According to our ‘osprey whisperer’ the osprey should start arriving mid-February. Our next survey would be in the late May/early April timeframe to check for the presence of activity including counting eggs and hatchlings. Following that, when the hatchlings are roughly 30-40 days old, the survey team would return to band the chicks; both surveys are subject to many variables, we will keep you posted.
A special thanks to John, Cheryl, and Gabe for helping make this season’s first survey successful.
Osprey Nesting Platform Survey & Bandings
Posted: August 9, 2024 by Back Bay NWR Society
Osprey Season Summary August 8, 2024
By: Reese Lukei Jr., Board Member, Back Bay NWR Society
This 2024 Osprey Season Summary contains data related to production of young Osprey from known active nests where data was obtained from egg laying to fledging. It does not contain data about inactive nests or nests where data was incomplete such as the entrance road pole platform nest (BB#23 – OW # 4321).
Osprey Banding July 3, 2024
The final trip this season to band Osprey nestlings was conducted on Wednesday July 3, 2024 by Refuge staff Lauren Mobray (Supervisory Biologist) and Sydnie Matkins, Doug Miller (boat captain) and Catherine Miller refuge volunteers, and Reese F. Lukei, Jr (bander) refuge volunteer and Research Associate at The Center for Conservation Biology at the College of Willian & Mary.
Nesting Banding:
Nest #24 (OW #7735) west of the Visitor Center contained two nestlings age 30 days and one unhatched egg
Location GPS 36.6725, -75.9192
Purple auxiliary band # 53/E, USGS band #1088-04676, weight 1330 grams, crop 1/2
Purple auxiliary band # 54/E, USGS band #1088-04677, weight 1250 grams, crop 3/4
Nest # 7B (OW #9830) Bush Island Cove – South contained three nestlings age about 35 days
Location GPS 36.6665, -75.9175
Purple auxiliary band # 55/E, USGS band #1088-04678, weight 1330 grams, crop 1/4
Purple auxiliary band # 56/E, USGS band #1088-04679, weight 1260 grams, crop 3/4
Purple auxiliary band # 57/E, USGS band #1088-04680, weight, 1290 grams, crop Full
Reese F. Lukei, Jr.
Research Associate
The Center for Conservation Biology
Federal Bird Band Permit # 21567-K
Osprey Banding June 22, 2024
By: Reese Lukei Jr., Board Member, Back Bay NWR Society
The banding of Osprey nestlings was conducted on Saturday June 22, 2024, at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The survey was conducted by refuge volunteer and boat captain Charlie Ellin, USFWS refuge interns and refuge volunteers. In charge of the banding process was Reese Lukei, Jr, refuge volunteer and Research Associate at The Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William & Mary.
Two trips were made from the dock behind the Visitor Center.
Summary:
7 nests checked
1 nest with 3 nestlings banded
2 nests with nestlings too young to band
1 nest with nestlings too high to safely access
3 failed nests
The banding of Osprey nestlings was conducted on Saturday June 22, 2024 at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge by boat captain Charlie Ellin, refuge volunteer, and Reese Lukei, Jr, refuge volunteer and Research Associate at The Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William & Mary.
wo trips were made from the dock behind the Visitor Center. The first group was USFWS interns Layne Houk, Seth Kite, Hannah Carden and Sarah Montague. This trip went south from the dock.
The first nest checked was #30 on Long Island. On May 16, 2024 this nest contained 3 eggs. Today this nest was empty – a failed nest – reason not known. No dead nestlings nor any sign of egg shells.
Nest #2 (OW #7760) on May 16 had 3 eggs and today had 3 nestlings about 35 days of age. Location GPS 36.65472, -75.91667 The 3 nestlings were banded as follows:
Purple auxiliary band #45/E, USGS band #1088-04646, weight 1498,grams, crop full
Purple auxiliary band #46/E, USGS band #1088-04647, weight 1340 grams, crop empty
Purple auxiliary band #47/E, USGS band #1088-04648, weight 1604 grams. crop full
Nest #7B on May 16 contained 3 eggs and today had 3 nestlings about 3 weeks old, too young to band.
The second group was Catherine and Doug Miller, Cheryl Caloras and John Spallone. This group went north from the dock.
Nest #24 on May 16 contained 3 eggs and today had 2 nestlings about 3 weeks old, too young to band.
Nest #P1 on May16 contained 1 egg and 2 just hatched nestlings. Today this nest was empty – a failed nest – reason not known. No dead nestlings and no sign of egg shells
Nest #P2 on May 16 contained 2 eggs and 1 just hatched nestling. Today this nest had 3 nestlings about 35 days of age, but the nest platform is too high to safely access and in very poor condition.
Nest #P3 on May 16 contained 3 eggs but today the nest was empty. No dead nestling nor sign of egg shells. Both adults were on the nest when we arrived a possible indication of recent nest failure.
Osprey Nesting Platform Survey
Posted: June 13, 2024 by Back Bay NWR Society
By: Reese Lukei Jr., Board Member, Back Bay NWR Society
Among the Society’s many projects is the osprey platform program, in which the Society builds, maintains and surveys osprey platforms.
Osprey are commonly seen raptors at this time of year in our region. When identifying an osprey look for a brown back and wings, white chest and belly and a brown stripe extending down the head from the eye. Osprey are fish-eaters and are seen fishing over both fresh and salt water.
Osprey nests at Back Bay NWR were surveyed today, May 15, 20204, to determine number of active nests with eggs and nestlings. The survey was conducted by Charlie Ellin, Sydnie Matkins, Layne Houk and Reese Lukei, Jr.
These results indicate that potential banding of nestlings should be about June 17- 21.
Results:
Seven active nests
18 eggs
3 nestlings
Nest #24 – 3 eggs
Nest #30 – 3 eggs
Nest #2 – 3 eggs
Nest #7B – 3 eggs
Nest #P1 – 1 egg, 2 nestlings
Nest #P2 – 2 eggs, 1 nestling
Nest #P3 – 3 eggs
Photos by: Photo Credits: Reese Lukei and USFWS
Osprey Nesting Platform Survey
Posted: February 11, 2024 by Back Bay NWR Society
By: Charlie Eileen, Board Member, Back Bay NWR Society
Monday January 15th, 2024 was the perfect day for this season’s first osprey nesting platform survey; winds were calm, water very high and temperatures in the mid 40’s. The purpose of this survey was to assess the need for and accomplish any structural repairs necessary and to add a few sticks where needed to make the platforms more inviting to returning osprey couples.
Our team this year, responding on very short notice as such perfect days are difficult at best to forecast this time of year, consisted of John Spallone, Cheryl Caloras, Gabe Olszak, and myself. We left my house at about noon and returned around 3:00 pm.
Owing to perfect weather conditions, especially the high water, we were able to survey all our platforms including those deep into Bush Island Cove and Wash Flats. Results of the survey are included in the attached updated data sheet. Two of the platforms required minor structural repair, a couple platforms may need replacing within the next few years, and 4 of the platforms had evidence of activity during the 2023 season.
According to our ‘osprey whisperer’ the osprey should start arriving mid-February. Our next survey would be in the late May/early April timeframe to check for the presence of activity including counting eggs and hatchlings. Following that, when the hatchlings are roughly 30-40 days old, the survey team would return to band the chicks; both surveys are subject to many variables, we will keep you posted.
A special thanks to John, Cheryl, and Gabe for helping make this season’s first survey successful.
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