Sasanoa River, Maine

I spent some time on the bridge over the Sasanoa River today, and the adult with a nest on top of the bridge pretty much stayed on the nest brooding her chick or chicks (I'm pretty sure there's at least one chick there, but haven't had a good look yet). However, things were more interesting on the platform nest of the Sasanoa River osprey pair.

I hadn't actually seen a feeding there - and today I arrived at just the right time - Dad was at the top of the dead tree next to the nest keeping watch, and Mom was feeding the chicks (all pictures click bigger).

As I watched Mom feed the chicks, I began to think there were more bobbing heads than were possible with two chicks - but as far as I know, two is all this pair has ever had, and while they were doing a great job this year, there were a LOT of osprey in the area, so it seemed unlikely that they had more than two - but I kept wondering....

And at some point, it became obvious that there really were three - and that they were neatly lined up, and all looking healthy and no sign of rivalry - all the good things we so hope to see in a nest that we're watching. Here are a few more pictures.

The oldest chick was four weeks old on Saturday, June 25, or maybe a day or two earlier, and I'm guessing the others are no more than 3-4 days younger, based on the lovely feathers they all seemed to be displaying. And it is wonderful to see the platform pair doing so well with the challenges they have to face with other nests nearby, and I think a few un-nested osprey who would love to move in. But this pair really does seem to have it together!

I haven't posted a picture of the area for a while, so here's the wide view from the bridge, and it's about 1/10 of a mile from my vantage point to the nest.

And with a bit of luck, next weekend when I go down, I'll be able to see a chick or two on the bridge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you'd like to see additional pictures from this nest, and from the osprey nests "around the corner" on the Sasanoa River, you can use the link for my Local Wildlife Home Page at the top of the page to see an index to all the visits.