Another Osprey Chick dies....down to 1!

[Eric Diller]

Well we started out with 3 chicks on April 4th or 5th. One died about 12 days into life from lack of food due to the other 2 hogging all the food, but the first born is very aggressive. He has been pecking the hell out of the second one never allowing him to get food. Little guy died from starvation and heat exhaustion yesterday about 2:00. Funny how you get attached to these guys, now we are down to one (unless he commits suicide for basically killing his siblings).


This was from 2 days ago (little guy on the right is the one that died)

Yesterday an hour before death...the 2 gaze at one another

Little guy expiring on the right side as big sibling watches!

 

[Don Cohen]

Very interesting story, and great shots.

"Real-life" nature is considerably less kind than many people's storybook ideas would suggest.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Very interesting story, and great shots.

"Real-life" nature is considerably less kind than many people's storybook ideas would suggest.

Do the dead ones get eaten?

Asher

 

[Eric Diller]

Do the dead ones get eaten?

Asher

No...it just sits in the nest and decays away. I can still see it in the nest. Sometimes when they adults comes in with fish for the remaining chick the trample all over the dead one, moving it around the nest. So When I get to the nest most days i never know where that body will be laying. Another week or so of this Florida heat should expedite the whole process. Tired of seeing the little one laying there!