HOG ISLAND, ME~2016, 2017 & 2018

catwoman · **Posted:** Thu Dec 31, 2015 11:17 pm

This is an EXPLORE webcam!!

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 8191

Steve has returned! Great new cam with sound this year, but down right now.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 8191

Cam is back with great new view of nest!

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 8191

Video by Arlene Beech of Steve's return to the nest this morning. Just found out there will be 2 cam views this year! The view the cam ops' can control is still down.

rysx · **Joined:** Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:28 am **Posts:** 450

Thank you SWINWK. Later during the day I saw Steve coming and going several times. It looks that these are views from two different cameras.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 8191

bonbon · **Joined:** Thu May 21, 2015 8:04 pm **Posts:** 2243

YaaaHoooo!!

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 8191

OMG! Rachel has returned to the nest within last 5 -10 minutes!!! :eggbounce:

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 8191

The return of Rachel to Hog Island nest. The video is 11', but she appears right away and shortly thereafter Steve comes in.

Video by: Regina Hornung

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 8191

Due to the weight ... the nest was removed this season, so the support would last. Keep your fingers crossed they rebuild here as some are thinking Rachel is not happy about the situation.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 8191

Message about the nest and cams:

Poppy Mod • 11 minutes ago
Please unfold for all announcements!

Hello, osprey fans!

Since many chat friends return to our commnunity there have been so many questions about the nest. Here is the explanation: “We added guy wires to the pole that supports the nest and removed years of built up debris, mostly in the form of guano. There was a couple of hundred pounds of this, and it was adding considerable stress to the pole the nest rests on. In addition, a more natural looking perch was installed.”

Rachel and Steve have to rebuild the nest, but that is no problem. Other nests are cleaned completely every year. Nevertheless, the platform is pretty large, about 4.5x4.5 ft. (pic courtesy of Pennalope)

In addition to the regular cam, a second has been placed on the left hand side on nest level (blue box) that will give an interesting view on fish deliveries, eggs and hatchlings. Stay tuned, the work on the cam set-up hasn’t been finished yet.
...........................................

bonbon · **Joined:** Thu May 21, 2015 8:04 pm **Posts:** 2243

"Guy Wire?"
and
...that's a lot of guano... :teehee:

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 8191

They call them "guy wires" in this region too. That is the correct word, but some people call them "guide wires" mistakenly.

bonbon · **Joined:** Thu May 21, 2015 8:04 pm **Posts:** 2243

From Wikipedia:
"A guy-wire, guy-line, guy-rope or guide-wire, also known as simply a guy, is a tensioned cable designed to add stability to a free-standing structure. They are used commonly in ship masts, radio masts, wind turbines, utility poles, fire service extension ladders used in church raises and tents. A thin vertical mast supported by guy wires is called a guyed mast."

(I thought it was a joke! :girlcrazy:

...but they sounded serious!)

rysx · **Joined:** Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:28 am **Posts:** 450

April 15.

bonbon · **Joined:** Thu May 21, 2015 8:04 pm **Posts:** 2243

Chat just reminded us that we may see the 2014 chicks if they return to the area (the 3 P's: Pan, Pia, and Poole), and they were banded!
Wouldn't it be exciting if they visited?!

rysx · **Joined:** Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:28 am **Posts:** 450

Short visit, this afternoon.

rysx · **Joined:** Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:28 am **Posts:** 450

It looks that Rachel and Steve started to renovate their nest. I saw them several times bringing a stick and once – a clump of moss or something similar. No mating yet…

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 8191

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 8191

Post from mod:

As there was some concern about the whereabouts of Rachel and Steve in the days since their return, we reached out to Audubon's Project Puffin Director Dr. Stephen Kress who told us:

"Both birds are on the nest and they just brought in a couple of sticks. They look very much at home.

We could probably look back at the osprey video from a year ago to see if there was less activity in the days immediately following return. This would not be surprising as the birds rebuild body weight after a long migration and are probably busy feeding before getting too busy with nest building. We see that with seabird such as puffins and terns.

After return, they only spend part of the day at the nest and increasingly so as they get further into the nesting cycle."

Thanks, Dr. Kress! We appreciate your expert viewpoints. We look forward to an incredible osprey season.

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