Welcome to Palmetto Electric's 2024 Osprey Season. This is Bea and Jasper's 14th season at our communication's tower on Hilton Head Island. 

Last year the pair had two eggs. The first chick died a few weeks after it hatched and the second chick ultimately fledged the nest. The pair have had 17 successful fledglings in their timespan on the tower.

Jasper and Bea have had a slow start this season as normally the pair has laid eggs in March. Though last year the pair had their eggs April 12th and April 15th. 

EH is still being fed by it's parents, Bea and Jasper. We have yet to see EH  bring a fish to the platform on its own.

Yesterday morning about 7:15, EH fledged. The juvenile is hanging out at various locations on the tower and nearby trees. Maybe we'll see EH back on the camera before the family departs the nest. It was 71 days before EH took flight which is the longest of all the juveniles since we placed the camera on the tower on 2008. 

EH finally came back to the nest. After sitting on the platform for 71 days, I'm sure it needed to stretch its wings a bit. 

As of July 24, EH has yet to fledge. The juvenile has been exercising its wing muscles in anticipation of its initial flight. Juvenile osprey normally take their first flights 7 - 8 weeks after hatching. Tuesday, July 25th, will be nine weeks since EH hatched. It's possible that EH has developed a bit slower as Jasper did not provide a steady stream of fish in the early developmental stage this season as he had been in the past, which required Bea to leave the nest to provide nourishment for EH.

Bea and Jasper continue to provide EH with fish and are often seen near the nest. Most likely encouraging EH to take flight.

Today marks the 48th day since EH hatched.  Initially after the two chicks hatched, Jasper did not provide fish as he has done in the past. Often, the chicks were left alone while Bea set out to find food. The first chick, JK, died about one week after hatching. Crows have often been seen about the nest and tower, so we're thinking that maybe JK was attacked while Bea was away. 

EH, the second chick, is now 48 days old and has grown into a young juvenile. As either parent brings fish to the nest, EH is quite eager to receive and pester Bea as she still tries to feed EH. 

With Bea leaving the nest daily to find fish since Jasper occasionally brings food to the nest, the chick, EH, is left alone. The chick is lying in the shadow of the camera while a crow looks on. We are hoping the chick gets enough food to quickly grow to ward off any dangers from other birds.

 

Jasper has not been supporting Bea and the chick as Bea had left the nest for over 45 minutes today before she brought a fish in for EH. It's possible Jasper may be supporting a second nest.

Bea continues to leave the nest as Jasper only appeared once yesterday morning with a small fish. The chick is often left alone for periods of 15 minutes or more.

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.