It's osprey time again! Since at least 3/22, folks around the lake have seen ospreys returning to this area and gathering sticks to repair their nests. It is still a week earlier than their traditional arrival dates, but there's no telling when it comes to nature. The males typically arrive a few days earlier than the females and that seems to be the case this season as well.
I was driving around the lake looking at osprey nests today and saw my first pair of the season—at the Union Spring NYSEG Substation nest. It's always a thrill to see that they have both returned safely and working on new generation—the grand circle of life. Later, at about 5 pm, I saw a male osprey at Salt Point. It was harassing a Bald Eagle perched near the creek by flying around it and calling relentlessly for approximately ten minutes. When the eagle finally flew, the osprey circled over the lake and perched on the Salmon Creek platform (the pole closest to the Salt Point entrance). After about 15 minutes and lots of photos, I inadvertently scared it off by walking in the brush to get a closer photo. Did I ever feel badly! He's a skittish one, when it comes to people, but no push over with eagles. Enjoy osprey watching with the *Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail* this season—but remember to give the birds space. Keep at least 100-300 feet from most ospreys and their nests. It robs the ospreys of valuable energy to scare, which can impact their breeding success. There are a few nests such as the ones at Salt Point, Union Fields at Cass Park, Harris Park (Union Springs), and the Basin Street nest (Frontenac Marina, Union Springs) where you can stand close to the platform without incident. Eyes to the Sky! Candace Please send me sightings of any osprey nests in the Finger Lakes not listed in the *Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail* to *<[email protected] <[email protected]>>. Thanks!* For information on ospreys: http://www.lansingrec.com/ospreys Enjoy my seasonal blog on the Salt Point ospreys *On Osprey Time* at http://www.lansingrec.com/parks/20-salt-point/salt-point-articles/27-on-osprey-time . *Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail:**<*www.tinyurl.com/ <http://www.tinyurl.com/CayugaLakeOspreys>CayugaLakeOspreys <http://www.tinyurl.com/CayugaLakeOspreys>>. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
