Fred and Ethel - Revisit

Yes, I have been negligent in taking about my neighbors...tenants?  I have had a VERY busy summer as my readers of my other blog know.  But I am slowly TRYING to get back into Zen mood.  (I still have at least two trips in the coming months, so may fail at this until the cold weather smacks me up the backside and makes me behave.)

Fred and Ethel, our resident ospreys, were successful this year in producing two little ones.  I, on the other hand, was not successful in documenting their adventure.  One was a runt and for a short time we thought it might not survive as the bigger one got all the food.  (The wildlife camera that my husband purchased was a mistake on his part as it was really a security camera requiring electricity to run and having the lowest resolution possible while still being a camera!)

Below is a lengthy series of photos in which I attempt to bring readers up-to-date.  Some of the photos are reasonably good and others are bad but do fit the story line!  I was too lazy to bring the tripod most times.  I reduced resolution for most since I am posting so many and that has degraded them even further!  (If osprey (fish hawks) are not your cup of tea, please feel free to leave and make coffee instead.  See you next time!)  ( I seem to be the Queen of parenthetical expressions this post!)

Daddy waits patiently all spring for the brood to hatch.

Mommy sits, and when she gets bored, she re-arranges the furniture.

Then at sunset when I head down, Daddy tells me to go jump off a cliff.

Finally we see the first little head pop up in the middle of the nest.

Then as they grow we note there are two.

Here is Mommy and the two siblings waiting for dad to bring home the bacon fish.

Then one morning at the end of July there is only one left in the nest.

Sister is waiting patiently on a nearby pole.

Daddy is doing aerobatics to show sonny how to fly.

Like this!

He gives me the evil eye every once in a while to remind me that I am on his hit list.

Finally Junior spreads his wings.

Wheee!

Look at me he chirps!

He gets quite high.

But after a while lands again.

Mommy is waiting patiently on the top of the crane.

Gee, that is a loooong way down.

I need dinner.  When do we eat?  I finally left for the day and he did not leave the nest until the following day!

Here is a fair close-up to make up for all the bad pics.

They have both fledged, but continue to hang around and eat dinner in the nest in the mornings and evenings.  Soon they will all head further south to get better fishing lessons and to follow the sun.  I will miss them, but know that they will return next spring!!