Osprey Live Stream, Stockton, Missouri
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Liberty Utilities Co. and Mid Central Contractors invite you to join us in celebrating the return of osprey to Stockton Lake. Enjoy this brief peek into the lives of this osprey family! But, please be aware, at times, nature can be difficult to watch.
On February 24, 2015, Liberty Utilities Co. moved the osprey nest from one of our transmission towers to this newly built nesting box. The pair had a nest burn in the previous summer after coming in contact with an energized electric line. The fire also did damage to the transmission tower and line, interrupting electric service. This new home for the pair of osprey is meant to be a safe nesting alternative while also increasing service reliability for Liberty Utilities customers. Click here to view photos of the installation of the nesting platform.
Above is a live stream of the nesting box. The box is approximately 4-feet by 4-feet and approximately 70-feet high. Although the power lines are visible in the background, the nesting box is approximately 50 feet away from the power lines. This nest also has night vision provided by infrared light illumination. Birds and humans cannot see infrared light, so the osprey are not bothered at night by the infrared light illumination. The cameras are powered by two solar panels. If there are several days in a row of overcast skies, the camera may run out of battery backup. But, once the sun returns, the camera will be operational again.
Note to viewer: Images presented on this live stream are the property of the Liberty Utilities Co. and may be used for educational and non-commercial purposes. Images may not be sold.
About Ospreys
Osprey are uncommon statewide, most are spring and fall migrants but a few nest here. Ospreys are up to 24 inches long, with a 5- to 6-foot wingspan. They are midway between eagle size and large hawk size.
They eat almost exclusively fish they have caught, including carp, catfish, perch, shad and suckers. Also called “fish hawks” or “fish eagles,” osprey usually fly back and forth over—and 50 to 200 feet above—the water while searching for fish. When an osprey spies a fish, it hovers a moment before diving and plunging into the water feet first. Often it will completely submerge except for the wings.
Osprey reach maturity at age 3 or 4 and usually nest near water on a tall structure, such as a tree or rocky bluff. Like bald eagles, they generally mate for life. Nests are built of sticks and miscellaneous other materials. Two to four eggs are produced and hatch in about 5 weeks. The chicks fledge after about 9 weeks. Both parents care for the young. Osprey live about 7-10 years but have been known to live for 25.
(Source: Missouri Department of Conservation)
For more information about osprey, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website here.
Comments 1,941
Our lady on the perch eating a lively one.
One on perch, then flew to nest.
Thanks for fledge dates. I had not recorded those from last year.
Those are the dates that I have too. Also, fledged 7/13, 7/14, 7/17 and 7/18
Osprey on the nest with a fish. 3:27pm.
Osprey on perch at 11:45am.
Hi everyone, I had made notes last season of EGGS being laid &I hatching
Laid = Apr 11, 14, 18, 19. Hatched = May 19, 20, 22, 24.
I hope these dates were correct.
Thanks Mary, that is very helpful!
Thanks, Mary….I have the same laying dates…glad for the confirmation.
I’m not home and can’t remember if I have the hatch dates written
down or not.
I had the 3rd egg laid on 4/16. If it was laid on 4/18 it would have hatched at 34 days and that doesn’t seem possible. I have all the same hatch dates, though.
One still on nest at 9:00 looking around. Looks windy on nest. Hope to see both on nest together soon.
Mama has been on the nest since I turned it on at about 8:35 or so….
Seems to be looking around for her mister….
Female on the nest at 8:40am
There is an Osprey on the nest at 8:38 am moving sticks around. it won’t be long!
Yay…it’s back!! Thank you to anyone that might have fixed it!
Anyone else having trouble connecting to the cam?
Yes, mine’s been down since sometime this afternoon….
yeah, just keeps trying to connect
I remember seeing a white tube sticking up last season but not 2 pcs. Can’t tell what it is.
There were two there last year too.
Yeah, there were two last year. I seem to remember Mike saying they were for the sound (microphone).
I think they were attached in the nest when they removed it from the
electric pole and they just left them there so they wouldn’t damage the
nest trying to get them out.
Ha ha. You are right, Gail. I don’t know where I came up with thinking they were mics.
Well…a reasonable idea!!
She was here….on the nest!! I think she was calling,
but couldn’t get my sound turned up fast enough….
Sure love seeing her!!
So hoping the male shows up now. He is such a good provider.
One Osprey on the nest. A second one just flew in but was chased away. Maybe the nest is finally being claimed.
That is hopeful news!
Love hearing of more activity!!
Wonderful!!
I was trying to reply to Chuck, but it didn’t got there for some reason…
Thank you for the siting update, Chuck!
Osprey on perch.
I wonder if it is one of ours. If so, I hope we soon see two on the nest. Am getting anxious.
I’m back on again & anxious to begin watching them again this year.
Hard to believe it is that time again. I am looking forward for the next family.
I’m amazed at how consistent they are on their timing. Crazy!
So am I and the hummingbirds always show up around the the 19th of April at my house. Thanks again for letting us get a birds eye view.
Saw one osprey on the perch!
Yay!!!
Wow!!! Wonderful!!
Wow! And so it begins!
Thanks so much to all involved to make this happen again this year. Anxious to see what this year brings. 🙂
Thanks
March 10th is when they arrived Last Year.
Thank you!! We’ve been wondering about the previous arrival dates!
2 vultures sitting in the nest right now.
Should be just about any day now.
Can’t remember when did they come back last year?
big white bird in the trees just right of the osprey nest– maybe a snowy owl?
we have some ospreys that stay at the end of pier, one is chummaker. we love to watch them. i have built a perch, but would love to have a platform for a nest to put up down at the end of the pier…see chummaker, and about the 1:25 mark, he takes flight and you can start stop and watch…
https://www.facebook.com/BacliffTexas77518/videos/933687696787223/
Lucky you, Terry!! Thank you for sharing!
Looks as if our ospreys have some work to do on that nest. Will be interesting to watch them build it up again.
What part of Stockton lake is the nest located?
Good to see that the camera is back up where is the site located on Stockton lake ,we would like to take pics while they are at flight?
Great to see the Osprey cam up and running again this year! Thank you so much to Empire Electric and Mid Central Contractors from the Greater Ozarks Audubon Society chapter!
Just checked back in. Wonderful to see the camera in operation. Thanks to all who made it possible for us to view the ospreys again this year.
There are now two Black Vultures on the nest….
they have been here for a while and “crowing” some too…..
I think the two hawks I saw here yesterday were Red-Tails…..
Hi Mary…..Happy Osprey season!
Oops…sorry Mary….posted that twice!
Looks like Mr. & Mrs. Osprey are going to have some cleanup and restoration to do on their nest. I can hardly wait to see them.
There is a large bird on the electric pole….a hawk, I think…..
I really couldn’t tell what that bird was….could only see the back of it in the distance which looked dark
and once in a while maybe a lighter head……
I was thinking of our nest & osprey,s. Checked. Happy to see the cam is up. & others getting anxious.
Hi Mary…..Happy Osprey season!
Two Hawks on the nest…. 1:23 pm
wonderful to ‘see’ you all again <3
Woo-Hoo!! The cam is up!! Thank you so, so much!!
Hooray! Osprey cam is up and ready. Looking forward to another great year. Thanks so much for letting us enjoy these magnificent and very entertaining birds.
I was wondering about the cam as well. Have been checking on it from time to time. I was just looking at my calendar and I started watching the Osprey in the middle of March last year. I have every date written down…….eggs laid, hatched, wings flapping and “the fledge”. I can hardly wait!!!
Will the cam be up and running this year?
I’m getting anxious for Osprey season!
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Nov 2…back to the lake….saw one osprey and one bald eagle. No osprey activity in cove where we usually see them, but did see one fly across the lake.
Me too. So enjoyed watching the cam
Oct 8….. back to the lake. Had to chuckle, Sharon. No, we don’t live near the lake. It takes us 1 1/2 hours to get there, but so worth the trip. Went osprey watching again. Saw 5 osprey and one bald eagle. Osprey #1 made 2 dives, no fish. Osprey #2 made 2 dives, 1 fish. Osprey #3 made 1 dive, 1 fish. Osprey #4 made 2 dives, 1 fish. Osprey # 5 made 4 dives, 1 fish. Two osprey were near each other. The other 3 were in different parts of the lake. Guess they are not in a hurry to go south. 🙂
When do they start nestorations/nesting and meeting up with their mates for this coming season?
Last spring they arrived March 10….will be curious to see what next spring brings!
October 1….. back to the lake. No activity near camera nest, but did see 3 ospreys out hunting for fish. One dove into the water, but came up with nothing. Wondering how late into the year they will stay. Also saw a bald eagle again today. What a treat to see!
Becky, apparently you live close to Stockton Lake. Lucky you!!! Thank you for keeping the update going on the Ospreys. I really miss those guys.
Thanks for your updates, Becky. Hope the ospreys do not wait too long to migrate and all make it back safely next year.
wonderful!! so happy you have seen the ospreys. thank you for telling us
last year at this nest we saw vultures,bluebirds. miss seeing the nest