Creston Valley Osprey Cam Update

Two cameras were installed on the side of an Osprey nest in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area in 2009. The ospreys returned to the nest in late April and eventually laid two eggs. As we were working on the technical aspects of getting the camera live and streaming to our website, we noticed, in early June, that one of the eggs was missing. A few days later the second egg was gone as well. These unfortunate events cancelled the project for the season as there was now nothing to see in the nest. We don't know what happened to the eggs. Images from the camera were broadcast live at the Wildlife Interpretation Centre at this time, but unfortunately nobody saw the events leading up to the disappearance of the eggs. If the eggs are left unattended for long periods, there are a variety of animals that would be keen to swoop in and take the eggs – from eagles to vultures to great horned owls. It is important for an Osprey pair to share the incubation duties. The female does it the most, while the male brings food and makes sure predators stay clear, but he also takes a turn to give the female a much needed break. So that’s the update for the 2009 Osprey Cam adventure. Fortunately we have some video clips from the 2007 nesting season for you to take a look at. We will continue to monitor the nest in 2009 and will hopefully try the webcam again another year. A special thanks to the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and to Kootenay Wireless, Creston Tree Service and Carmela Wishlow for all their hard work. Please check out the following video and clips showcasing highlights of the 2007 season. The clips require Quicktime (click here to download). Video Downloadable Clips A list of downloadable clips can be found on our Video Page. Photos Photo Copyright 2008 Michael Farnsworth    Photo Copyright 2008 Michael Farnsworth Osprey Facts Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) return to the same nest, made of sticks, often located on man-made elevated structures such as power poles, buoys and bridges as well as cliffs and snags. The female lays between two to four eggs, one to five days apart. The eggs are incubated for 35 to 40 days. The diet of an osprey consists nearly entirely of live fish. The Nutrient Restoration Program in Kootenay Lake has helped boost kokanee numbers is, therefore, playing an important role in supporting the osprey population. Ospreys can become completely submerged when diving for fish and still take off with their prey, unlike bald eagles which pluck the fish from the surface. There have been reports of ospreys drowning after locking into a fish that is too big and strong to bring to the surface. Ospreys were once threatened around the world primarily due to the use of DDT and other pesticides, but their numbers have rebounded in recent decades. They are the most widely distributed bird of prey, found on all continents except Antarctica. Ospreys in the Columbia Basin usually migrate in winter to the southern United States or Mexico. Ospreys are unique in that they have an opposable toe that can face forward or backward. When sitting on a branch it usually has three toes on the front and one on the back. When holding a fish it usually has two toes on each side of the fish. When flying with its prey the osprey invariably flies with the fish head first to reduce wind resistance.