Our website host has fixed the connection problem for the osprey images so we are back up and running. Sorry about that folks. Our resident ospreys are still in the area though mostly not in view of the camera.

You can check out the nest at https://www.palmetto.coop/osprey-habitats/

Hey Everyone, sorry about the lack of posts. With everything going on the Osprey blog was pushed aside. In the last post, April 22nd, Bea and Jasper lost their youngest chick KS. But SZ has fledged. Often the trio has been seen on surrounding trees and on various parts of the communication tower. SZ will stay with its parents until it is time to migrate south.

Around Hilton Head we do have osprey that are here throughout the year, but I'm not sure if they are more northern osprey that don't make a deeper winter migration.

Again sorry about the lack of posts and photos.

Bea and Jasper lost their youngest chick, KS. We aren't sure of the day KS died. It's death could have been to sibling rivalry or due to exposure during the severe lighting and thunderstorms we had a few days ago.

The chicks are doing well and are now growing their pin feathers. The chicks have a darker down  and a pronounced strip down their back. They resemble sticks in the nest which helps protect them from predators. 

Bea and Jasper will have only the two chicks - SZ and KS this year. Today marks the 47th day for the third egg. Normally ospreys hatch 35 - 42 days.

The second chick, KS, hatched sometime in the morning of Saturday, March 21, 2020. The second chick took 41 days to hatch.

It's possible the 2nd chick is attempting to hatch. It appears there is a pip in the egg. It looks as though there is a bit of egg shell raised. Either wishful thinking or the second chick is on its way. Then again the lines on the shell could be scratches from Bea.

The first chick is in the process of hatching. The eggs normally hatch in the order that they were laid. In the past few years the first chick hatched in 38, 41, 40, and 39 days. So this little one is on pace with its predecessors.

The little chick hatched at 7:31 this morning. It's name is SZ. Photos to be posted a little later.

We think we are seeing a PIP on one of the eggs. A pip is a small hole the chick makes with its egg tooth that is located If this is the case and the chick eventually hatched today it will be 41 days for the first egg.

Today is the 39th day since the first egg was laid. As viewer Beth indicated, we could start seeing chicks this week.   :)

Today marks the 33rd day since the first egg was laid. The past few seasons the first egg hatched 38 - 42 days after being laid so we might see the first chick in one week.

It's been nineteen days since the first egg was laid so we are about half way through the incubation period. The pair has been dealing with colder temperatures and rain the last week, but all in all their routine hasn't been hampered with intruding ospreys and the fish have been plentiful.

Bea and Jasper have their third egg as of Wednesday morning, February 12, 2020.

Bea and Jasper have their second egg as of Sunday morning, February 9th.

We have our first egg of the season that was laid today, February 6th at 7:34 am.

Welcome to Palmetto Electric's 2020 Osprey Season

Bea and Jasper have returned for their 10th season at our platform on Hilton Head Island, SC. The osprey's were both spotted on the nest January 9th.  The nest is located near Broad Creek and many smaller shallow creeks which provides an abundance of food for the ospreys. Jasper often brings in flounder that would droop over a plate. We'd love to know his fishing spot.

Last year the pair had two chicks, AG and HA, that fledged in the early weeks of July. The last two chicks brings the scorecard to 14 fledglings the pair has produced in 9 years. We want to thank everyone for joining us in watching Bea and Jasper and their prospective osprey chicks.