Hog Island Maine Osprey Cam 2018

[Kris G.]

This is the nest where Bailey hatched from last yr. Another sad happening last night when a GHO took one of the nestlings...same thing happened last yr to two of Bailey’s siblings. 

Watch video with extreme caution...

http://youtu.be/eWxe9y0iVcA

Web cam link

https://explore.org/livecams/birds/osprey-nest

[Kris G.]

A video showing the GHO attacked a 2nd time last night but Rachel was able to defend the 2 remaining chicks

http://youtu.be/rbEvZC9wHaY

[Kris G.]

People there had installed 2 bright lights a couple days ago that would illuminate the nest in order for Rachel to see any Owl attack happening but, sadly, there was another chick taken from the nest last night.  Rachel tried to fight it off but to no avail.  Both chicks were just banded a couple days ago too...now, one chick remains. 

[Kris G.]

After the 2nd chick was taken by the GHO, people decided to investigate other ways to keep the Owl away from the nest and this is a post from yesterday. Summer/EM remains safe from predation this AM.

Here is a photo that I took last night of the mannequin that we are using on Hog Island to add further deterrence to the Great Horned Owl. The idea was suggested by noted osprey researcher Paul Spitzer, who informed me of the use of a lighted human ‘dummy’ successfully deployed for this purpose in Eastern Bay, MD. When I mentioned this to Eric Snyder, he produced the mannequin that is now on ‘patrol’ under the Hog Island nest. Of course ‘scarecrows’ are a common garden feature, often used- typically with mixed success.
Using human mannequins to deter birds is not new to Project Puffin. Our most notable previous use was ‘robo-ranger’ a robotic mannequin that stood up from a box at Eastern Egg Rock. It was built by students at DeWitt Middle School (in Ithaca)’s Technology Dept., with guidance from the class instructor, David Buchner, and a Cornell robotics engineer. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gb3vjCCkT8
Unfortunately, gulls soon ‘habituated’ to robo-ranger, and it had little lasting effect on deterring gulls. This was likely because gulls could see that this was not a real person (the lack of realistic legs and other static features may have given it away), but also because of habituation behavior, where the lack of movement and predictability expose the non-threatening nature of the mannequin.
Avoiding habituation is the big challenge for our current mannequin plan. That is why the mannequin is moved daily to different positions and dressed in different outfits - and arms moved to different positions. We are also making a point to expose the legs of the mannequin, because there is some evidence that animals recognize the human form most readily by seeing legs as well as the torso. Keeping a spotlight on the mannequin further makes it conspicuous to the owl, which may add further deterrence.
We are only three nights into trying this method, so we will all see together the events of the coming nights and if this method shows promise.

Steve Kress

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[Kris G.]

Bittersweet ending to the season, after 2 of the 3 Osprey chicks were taken by the GHO. Early yesterday morning, EM, the remaining chick successfully fledged.  Fly high and stay safe, sweet girl!

Fledge video

http://youtu.be/a0vdF-0mrYI

[Annette]

 

[Kris G.]

EM has been doing well since fledging and even returned to the nest a few times yesterday...she looks great! After she fledged, people there had removed the light and mannikin, which had been placed to keep the GHO away. Last night, the GHO returned to, thankfully, find the nest empty!

http://youtu.be/FyRQ-4IHSeE