Estonian Osprey Nests Ilmar & Irma ~ DISCUSSION~ 2014

[NancyM]

This topic is the place to discuss and comment on all events happening on the Ilmar and Irma Osprey nest - the nestcam topic is for documentation of what is seen on the nest.

[asteria]

Surprise - surprise!!! What a joy - Ilmar and Irmas nestcam is online!
Nest at 18:24 ... it seems as if nothing "important" has happened until now - no remains of our poor Kaari from last season.
viewtopic.php?p=304241#p304241
quoted picture removed~ njm

I think her dead body was buried, probably after the season was over.

[Riitta]

New year - new season with Ilmar and Irma !
I hope, we'll see both soon!

[Bea]

Yes, I hope so, too ... but referring to last seasons datas the first Osprey on the nest showed up on April, 15th - an unringed youngster.

Ilmar was observated for the first time on April, 21st.

[lispet]

Good morning everybody!

How nice to see the nest again, looking so much forward to the new season!

At 6:38

[lianaliesma]

Hi all! Can't wait seeing Irma and Ilmar!

[Riitta]

Good morning.

12:01 I like the view of this nest.

[Bea]

The shadow prooves that the cam is there

[CTL]

Hi, I am coming back to see the nestafter a long winter. When shall the Ospreys come back to the nest? Will it come back on/before 16-4-2014?

[Bea]

Oh, CTL - making such an accurate prediction is a tall order, and I fear nobody can do this

We can only refer to the datas we know from last year .... see my post above:
viewtopic.php?p=304327#p304327

The first Osprey at Piret/Madis nest in 2013 was spotted on 17. April

[NancyM]

and before the Osprey showed up last year, there were other interesting visitors, including a beautiful young pair of WtE

[macdoum]

Thanks to all who have made this cam available once more.

Nancy Still snowed in over there ? Terrible winter for you & all in USA

[Wisteria]

Hello everyone, hope you had a good winter.

Maybe we will get a "flying visit" from those beautiful WTEs. It would be a nice way to start off the season.

[LupusLupus99]

Hey, good to see the camera back.

I think this year the ospreys will arrive a little earlier this year then last year due the very mild winter the we had around
the Baltic sea the past winter season. So I'll go ahead and make a prediction of the first osprey sighting at April 11th.

Also to fresh up my memory how old are the ospreys that makes their first trip back to the breeding area?
It was 2-3 years old or something like that wasn't it?

[NancyM]

macdoum - this winter has been awful - more storms and snow here than usual. Right now the snow is gone from here, but I am not calling it "Spring" yet. At least the first Osprey have been returning to Massachusetts!

Lupus, from what I have read, osprey are at least 3 before they reach breeding age; the literature says 3-5 years (and in densely populated areas like in some parts of the US, it can be even later (6-7 years).

[dalepai]

Oh,yes,new season is coming!

[Malewitsch]

I'm looking forward to a successful osprey season and would enjoy to seeing lots of healthy chicks conquering the sky.

[LupusLupus99]

thanks Nancy.

[Agatheb2k]

The shadow prooves that the cam is there

and the picture too, isn't?

[Kukelke]

Also to fresh up my memory how old are the ospreys that makes their first trip back to the breeding area?
It was 2-3 years old or something like that wasn't it?

Normally ospreys return when 2 years old (sometimes first when 3 years old). Usually they will then look for vacant nests or suitable new nesting places that first year of return, and that can be over a vast area, but always starting at, or close to the spot where they were born.
The year after, at age 3 (or 4) they have this 'mental map' in their head and will again check those places and if possible try to bond with a mate and produce offspring.

Having said that, I can't wait 'till we see our feathered friends again, Piret & Madis, and Ilmar & Irma, and deep in my heart I am so hoping to get a glimpse of Uno, Elo and/or Nori too, who could also be on their way now, at age 2.