AG has finally fledged on Thursday, May 23rd.

HA has fledged this morning, but we have yet to see AG, the oldest chick, leave the nest. It could be any hour or day for AG as the juvenile has frequently been hovering above the nest as HA has done.

We anticipate HA, the younger juvenile, to fledge first. HA has been more aggressive with mastering his flying skills than AG. HA has often been seen floating above the platform about 4 to 5 feet.

The juvenile ospreys turn seven weeks old and they have been exercising their wings, strengthening their muscles as we await seeing them fledge this week or the next. 

Bea and Jasper have not had a successful clutch in three years and we are excited for AG and HA to soon take their first flight.

The two siblings, AG and HA, have transformed tremendously in the last week. The first photo is of AG on April 23rd. The next several photos are of HA from this morning,as AG wouldn't keep still as he/she was preening. 

You can see how much the young ospreys have grown within one week's time frame. This week marks their 6th week since hatching. 

AG left, HA right

The chicks, AG and HA, are doing well and are growing like weeds. Occasionally, another osprey flies about the nest causing a temporary disturbance, but overall the osprey family is having a good season.

This week will mark the fifth week since the chicks hatched - AG on March 21st and HA on March 23rd. The chicks will fledge (taking their first flight) when they are about 7 to 8 weeks old. For at least a few weeks after fledging, the juvenile ospreys will return to the nest to be fed by their parents.

The chicks, AG and HA, hatched 18 and 16 days ago, respectively. They are becoming quite mobile and as of today are moving small sticks and clumps of spanish moss about the nest. With the chicks hatching close together and the abundance of fish that Jasper is bringing to his family there hasn't been too much aggression between the siblings. 

The chick's down is being replaced by black, wooly feathers and their legs are a greyish blue. It won't be long until their pin feathers come in and they will begin to resemble their parent's plumage.

Afternoon snack... Still no sign of a pip on the third egg.
HA is to the left, AG on the right.

Today marks the 41st day since the third egg was laid. We haven't noticed any sign of a pip in the egg shell and at this stage in the game, it may be best if the third chick doesn't hatch as it will be so far behind in development compared to the other two chicks and likely wouldn't survive. 

Sibling rivalry with ospreys can be quite severe with older chicks being more aggressive when it comes to surviving. The first born tends to give rise to the strongest and biggest of the brood.

The second chick, HA, hatched Saturday marking 38 days from being laid to hatching. If the third chick follows suit with its sibling's, then it should hatch today - 38 days. 

The red glow in the first photo is from the communication tower beacon.