Day: August 30, 2020

Readerrest Magnetic Eyeglass Holder link to purchase here

The DPW finished the retaining wall, moved boulders, prepped the hill and added loam. Today the Generous Gardeners completed stage one of plantings.

In case you missed it, the Gloucester Writers Center is extending its most recent Fish Tales show for another week. Get tickets at Gloucester Stage and stream it online or on any device.

Gather your people and listen to the love, the embarrassment, the hardship, and joy in these stories. Fish Tales features Casey Breton, Abram Kielsmeir-Jones, Doug Rich, Dick Prouty, Laila Goodman, Wendy Fitting, Bobbie Wayne, and Keith Harris.

Osprey Update: Liz is the last remaining Osprey chick still in the Lobsta Land nest. Here’s the Aug 27 update from the Essex Greenbelt Osprey Cam Website: 

Since late July, Liz, Vivi and Rusty have all fledged. During August, they remained on the nest, with fish being delivered by Squam. Annie took her leave (females typically depart south first) in early August and Squam has not been sighted at the nest for at least a week. And it appears that Vivi and Rusty have left the nest in the past week or so too. As of today, we are only seeing Liz, who was the smallest of the 3 chicks (probably a male as they are smaller than females), on the nest. Some viewers have expressed concern for Liz, but Liz has been seen bring fish back to the nest confirming hunting ability. Liz is just staying longer at a familiar pace before embarking on the long and arduous migration.

Do Osprey migrate together? That is a question I hear often and the answer is: they do not. Annie and Squam go their own way and could end up far apart by the time they reach their final winter destination. However, breeding pairs bond for life and reuse the same nest if they can year after year, so they will find each other again in Gloucester next spring (we hope), and start their 3rd breeding season in a row together.

Same with Liz, Vivi and Rusty – they will each chart their own course south. However, Osprey in general follow similar migration routes, so if you were “hawk watching” at a place like Cape May, NJ or Hawk Mtn, PA, you might see dozens or even hundreds of Osprey (and other raptors) soaring by overhead going south. But it is not a flock, it is a concentration.

Liz, Vivi and Rusty have a tough road ahead, as only about 40% of first year Osprey survive through year one. And remember, these three will stay for 18 mos where ever they end up – be it Cuba, or South America. If and when they return north successfully, and we sure hope they do, it will not be until the spring of 2022, and they will be about 20 months old at that point.

So, this is apparently Liz remaining at the nest. It is a little distressing  to see her/him alone but apparently all is as nature intended. Til “nest” year……