General

A great year for the ospreys of OPPD

It’s been an exciting year for OPPD’s resident raptors.  

The peregrine falcons at North Omaha Station stole the spotlight for a while when they successfully hatched a chick after losing three clutches in two years. Then that chick, now named Beak Randby, went on a little surprise adventure that again kept all eyes glued on the falcons’ livestream. 

But it’s been a good year for the ospreys of OPPD, as well.

Up at Fort Calhoun Station, the resident osprey pair is also having a successful year on the family front.  

Last year the pair raised two chicks; a third never hatched. This year, all three chicks hatched, and they are thriving.

In fact, the chicks are close to fledging. Ospreys typically fledge seven to eight weeks after hatching. This year’s chicks hatched May 28, so if they follow that timeline, they could begin fledging this week. 

Keep an eye on the ospreys’ livestream to catch the youngsters in action. 

And more good news

Last year, for the first time, a pair of ospreys built a nest on a platform at North Omaha Station.  

This year, there appear to be at least two osprey chicks in that nest, said James Thiele, OPPD’s Wildlife and Natural Resources Program Manager.  

“The osprey chicks at North Omaha are a few weeks behind the ones at Fort Calhoun,” he said.  

The North Omaha osprey nest doesn’t have a camera, and because the chicks are still relatively small, they’re not easily visible.  

“We don’t have a great vantage point for that nest right now, but once they grow a bit more, we should be able to see whether there are more than chicks in the nest,” Thiele said. 

Anytime now

At least one of the osprey chicks at Fort Calhoun appears ready to take flight at any moment, and the other two aren’t far behind. 

After their first fledge, the chicks will continue to roost at and around the nest for another month or so. Beyond hunting with their parents, the chicks will spend most of their time in the nest until it’s time to migrate, Thiele said. 

Chicks often catch their first fish two to eight weeks after fledging. These chicks will  follow their parents along the Missouri River and other nearby bodies of water. 

“The ospreys have been really successful, and it’s good to see this year’s chicks thriving,” Thiele said.