Wednesday, July 31, 2013

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!!





17 comments:

  1. ha. cool pics to catch up...glad the runt made it as well...and learned how to fly...bacon...mmm....

    my wife rearranges the furniture when she is bored as well...smiles.

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  2. Fun to see this. We have an osprey that lives high in a tree a few doors down. He has stayed this summer. Have never seen a mate. I'll have to watch better. Bird watching - never would have thought it could be so enjoyable.

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  3. Thanks for the story and the great illustrations. Love those earely attempts at lift-off. Or should it be lift-up?

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  4. A lovely family, i'm glad you documented them.

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  5. Congratulations to Fred and Ethel, two successes, and to you for your support and documentation. Thanks so much, you knew we'd want to know.

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  6. These are very huge interesting birds. To see them catch a fish is a thrill.

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  7. Your photos really go beautifully with your story and I LOVED your story. They are such majestic birds!

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  8. Fabulous series of images, more than making amends for any past neglect!! How disappointing, though, about the camera! What a shame.

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  9. I delighted through every step of this adventure. Poor sonny. I wonder if he felt any shame that sister made it out of the nest first. Made me think of the time a bully was picking on my son and my daughter rescued him by beating up the bully with her purse. Not a pleasant memory for my son.

    It is always wonderful to catch up on Fred and Ethel.

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  10. Just delightful. These images are really wonderful illustrations of this delightful store. What do they eat? Will they all return to the same spot? This would make a delightful children's book.

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  11. Wow! Just look at that wingspan. Just beautiful!
    Thanks for the great story!

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  12. This is a great post!! So enjoyed and got some laughs too. Thanks for bringing us into their family via your patient photo editing. ~~ barbara

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  13. Well done Tabor, the Osprey watching your making. Brilliant photos.

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  14. You did a great job of documenting them, Ellen. It's lovely to see them beginning to fledge. We see one hanging around here at the new place. It has done a couple of flybys with fish.

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  15. I love this post and have visited it many times!

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Glad to hear from you once again. I really like these visits. Come sit on this log and tell me what you are thinking.