Jasper has returned with fish.  😊

 

Not sure where Jasper has been. He was last seen Tuesday, June 6th, in the afternoon with a fish at the nest. During June 6th, Jasper was not seen until late afternoon. This season has been different than the previous years, with Bea frequently leaving the nest flying about the area, bringing in more sticks and moss. Past seasons she has always stayed on the nest, never leaving her chicks.

Yesterday we did not see Jasper all day and Bea often left the nest and eventually brought in a small fish for her sole chick and herself. We're hoping Jasper has just been off sight of the camera and unsuccessful hunting. Bea will have a difficult time caring for the chick if she also has to find food while leaving the chick unattended. There are often crows in the area and on the tower's communication equipment. The crows may have played a part in the first chick's death. 

Bea and Jasper have lost their first chick JK. We had storms and high winds Friday and especially on Saturday. The chick, JK, most likely died from exposure as the temperatures also dropped into the mid 50's which is rare for May. 

So now the pair has the one chick, EH, and with no competition for food, EH has a better chance of survival.

Bea and Jasper's second chick hatched at 8:26:13 this morning, May 23, 2023. The pair had two eggs that were laid on March 12th and March 15th with incubation periods of 40 and 38 days.

The second chick's name is EH.

Bea and Jasper have their first chick hatch for 2023. The chick's name is JK. Last year Bea laid three eggs, but no chick hatched. We believe the chick hatched this morning as the pair seemed a bit apprehensive.

The chick's name is JK.

Today marks 4 weeks since the first egg was laid, and the second egg was laid three days later. So we possibly could see two chicks in about two weeks or so. The pair has not had chicks since the 2021 season.

Below, Jasper is incubating the two eggs.

Bea and Jasper have settled in nicely to the rhythm of incubating their two eggs. The first egg was laid April 12th and the second was April 15th. From past history the pair usually sees a chick about 38 days after the egg was laid which should be around May 20 - 23. So it should be another five weeks until the nest has little chicks wiggling about the nest. 

The nest itself has taken shape compared to what it was at the beginning of the season. Back in 2017 a crew secured hardware cloth underneath the fence platform to prevent eggs and chicks from falling through as that has happened in past years when the osprey's nest wasn't up to par.

Bea and Jasper have their second egg that was laid Saturday, April 15th. With the pairs history they would normally have had chicks on the nest by now. This is the latest the pair has laid eggs since they have been on the nest since 2011. 

We have our first egg of the 2023 season. Not exactly sure when the egg was laid, but I'm thinking it was this week. The pair is very last, compared to prior seasons, with their egg laying. Maybe they knew of the cold snap we had and decided to hold off. Regardless, we (they) have the first egg which I for one thought the pair would not have any this year. 

Bea and Jasper's last successful clutch was in 2021 with two of their three chicks fledging. Last season the pair had three eggs, neither of them with chicks hatching. 

The pair, Bea and Jasper, are finally starting to rebuild their nest. They have a very long way to go, but at least they're making an attempt. In past years the pair were quick to tidy up the nest atop the 100' communications tower. Below are the before and current photos of the nest rebuild.