By: Keriann Spiewak, Virginia Aquarium, Reese Lukei, Jr. Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William & Mary
The June 26, 2025 survey was conducted by Keriann Spiewak, Virginia Aquarium, Reese Lukei, Jr , Center for Conservation Biology, Charlie Ellin and Chris Elam, BBNWR volunteers and John Ledder Sandbridge neighbor.
Despite yet another brutal heat day, we went out in order to collect Osprey production data. We expected at least some of the nestlings to be of banding age, 30 to 40 days old. There are eight active Osprey nests in this survey. One nest P1 #7161 had 3 eggs on May 7, but no eggs on May27, thus determined to be a failed nest. During today’s survey Keriann and I, federally licensed bird banders, placed uniquely alpha numeric bands on four nestlings as detailed below.
At the last nest we checked (13N # 12306) there was a dead 30 day-old nestling. A second nesting of the same age was obviously suffering from what appeared to be heat stress. While Keriann checked in with the Virginia Aquarium to see if she could bring the dead nestling in for a necropsy, I contacted Lisa Barlow, rehabber, to have her send someone to Sandbridge for the suffering nestling. The Virginia Aquarium and Lisa both responded positively, thus we removed both nestlings from the nest. Unfortunately the ill nestling died in transport to Lisa. Final results from Dr. Alissa at Virginia Aquarium are pending tests for avian flu.
Banding data for four nestlings: Nest 2 #7760 – Purple auxiliary band VA USGS $1088-04770 weight 1560 grams, Crop empty Purple auxiliary band VE USGS #1088-04771 weight 1132 grams, Crop empty Purple auxiliary band VK USGS #1088-04772 weight 1122 grams, Crop empty
Nest 14N #12305 – Purple auxiliary band VM USGS #1088-04773 weight 1354 grams, Crop full
Nests at which we did not band: Nest 20 #7430 – one nestling 20 days old, too young to band Nest P2 # 441 – 3 nestling 30-35 days old, nest too high to band Nest P3 #7162 – 2 nestling 35 days old, nest too high and unstable to band Nest 7B # 9930 – 3 nestlings 20-25 days old, too young to band
Osprey banding June 26, 2025
Posted: May 12, 2025 by Back Bay NWR Society
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
By: Keriann Spiewak, Virginia Aquarium, Reese Lukei, Jr. Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William & Mary
The June 26, 2025 survey was conducted by Keriann Spiewak, Virginia Aquarium, Reese Lukei, Jr , Center for Conservation Biology, Charlie Ellin and Chris Elam, BBNWR volunteers and John Ledder Sandbridge neighbor.
Despite yet another brutal heat day, we went out in order to collect Osprey production data. We expected at least some of the nestlings to be of banding age, 30 to 40 days old. There are eight active Osprey nests in this survey. One nest P1 #7161 had 3 eggs on May 7, but no eggs on May27, thus determined to be a failed nest. During today’s survey Keriann and I, federally licensed bird banders, placed uniquely alpha numeric bands on four nestlings as detailed below.
At the last nest we checked (13N # 12306) there was a dead 30 day-old nestling. A second nesting of the same age was obviously suffering from what appeared to be heat stress. While Keriann checked in with the Virginia Aquarium to see if she could bring the dead nestling in for a necropsy, I contacted Lisa Barlow, rehabber, to have her send someone to Sandbridge for the suffering nestling. The Virginia Aquarium and Lisa both responded positively, thus we removed both nestlings from the nest. Unfortunately the ill nestling died in transport to Lisa. Final results from Dr. Alissa at Virginia Aquarium are pending tests for avian flu.
Banding data for four nestlings:
Nest 2 #7760 – Purple auxiliary band VA USGS $1088-04770 weight 1560 grams, Crop empty
Purple auxiliary band VE USGS #1088-04771 weight 1132 grams, Crop empty
Purple auxiliary band VK USGS #1088-04772 weight 1122 grams, Crop empty
Nest 14N #12305 – Purple auxiliary band VM USGS #1088-04773 weight 1354 grams, Crop full
Nests at which we did not band:
Nest 20 #7430 – one nestling 20 days old, too young to band
Nest P2 # 441 – 3 nestling 30-35 days old, nest too high to band
Nest P3 #7162 – 2 nestling 35 days old, nest too high and unstable to band
Nest 7B # 9930 – 3 nestlings 20-25 days old, too young to band
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