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.

Bea and Jasper are providing fish for the two juveniles, AG and HA. The ospreys will most likely remain on the nest until July to August.

Below are a few photos that we haven't posted before. 

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.