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
Dad brought the fish to mom again and again and again and finally she accepted it. When she got up there were TWO EGGS. Yeah!!! We have another egg.
Yay!!!
I was hoping we’d have another egg today…..maybe tomorrow….
The birds just changed places and I saw a second egg.
FYI – On my laptop at home I found out by accident you can take a photo with their cam and save it to your files. If you hold the arrow over the bottom right of the picture it will bring up the sound and the camera icon. It works on my laptop at home but not on my desk top at work. I have no idea why. I took a good photo of the egg and posted it to FB, pretty cool!
Well, I’ll be darned!! I never noticed the cam there!! Thank you!!
There is not a facebook page for this Osprey cam is there?
John, I played with it a little and I can get it to copy and paste on fb without using files (which I am not as familiar with)
…..Wish it would paste here!
Thank you! Gail for that explanation. I do recall from last year that sometimes the mom or dad would bring in a whole fish or one half eaten , so now I know what’s going on. And I agree it’s great to have them back!!!
Mom standing over one egg 7:35
Mom was on the nest by herself, still just one egg. Dad flew in with a fish and gave it to mom awwww…what a loving gesture, then mom takes off with the fish. What’s up with that???
So excited that there is an egg! I love this Osprey family!!
They often take it to a tree or perch to eat it……On the other cams I watch the male usually eats the head elsewhere and then brings the
rest of the fish to the female….Sometimes she eats it on the nest…other times takes it to a perch or tree….
*….other times he will eat a whole fish or bring her one….
They both have been on nest at times. Mom placing her egg a little more secure. And yes, only saw one
Maybe more soon. Exciting!!
I’m trying to remember from other Osprey cams how often they lay more eggs…..maybe the 3rd day after each(?)
Hooray!!
Both were on the nest but mom was setting. When she got up there was AN EGG!!!!! Yes, THERE IS an egg.
I could tell last night she was trying to lay.
We have an egg
Mom is sitting on nest this am 6:51. Differently than I had seen EGGS??????
Mom still on nest. Bet she IS keeping eggs warm!
11:15 am
11:25 pm…..Mom ( I assume) is on the perch…..
I hope so. Mom is on nest or perch a lot
What is the popping sound?
Shouldn’t we be getting an egg soon???
I thought I saw an egg!! Oops, April Fool!! Enjoy the Osprey, everyone have a very blessed weekend!!
Naughty, naughty!! LOL
I just couldn’t resist!! Hope I didn’t offend anyone.
Not me! Love a good laugh!
I’ve checked several times today. & Mom (I think) has always been on nest. Maybe eggs are close!
She is almost always there when I look in also……on the nest or the perch…..
One on nest most of morning. Probably Mom. Windy!
So happy to see the ospreys back on the nest!!
It is dark, but one is still hanging out on the perch…..
….and just flew off in the rain….
One on perch eating fish
3/27 7:35 the male just came in and landed on her back and pushed her down.
one on nest at 7:30 preening on 3/27
One on perch eating fish. 7:20 pm
Well well well maybe that was dad moving nest material lol! mating attempt! Dont know if it was successful.
LOL
7:43 am and both are on the nest. Mom is busy moving nest material around.
The nest is looking quite soft and ready for eggs!!
Both on the nest….
One on the tree branch on left side of WOW cam view…the other in the nest
Thank you, Becky….I had forgotten about the wow cam….I was gone and out of touch too long!!
Mama on the nest at 12:40 pm…..hanging on in the wind….
both parents there at 7:26 am, doing a little nest repair.
Osprey at nest at 7:20 am on 3/24
Looks like a little remodel to nest on a windy day!
Both on nest 9:15 am. Beginning to see changes on nest
Both on nest 7:40 am. (One on perch. The other arranging twigs on nest)
This pair managed to take care of 4 chicks last year and each successively fledged–amazing! I hope this is the same pair.
One on nest one on perch 6:00 pm
Great to see the Osprey back!!
Both on the nest Noon 3/20/17. Nice sign of Spring.
Both on nest this afternoon
Yes it is more than likely the same pair. There are several breeding pairs in the area, and they will usually always return to their previous nest.
This nest successfully raised 4 chicks last year!
Both on the nest at 11:00 am…actually 10:00 am…I just realized that I have been posting eastern time since I am in that time zone at my son’s house. Sorry.
Both Ospreys on nest at 7:45 am
One Osprey on perch at 7:15 am. Excited they are back
7:44…. apparently dad brought mom a fish and both are here.
I missed the time she came back again…but, she is back.
She(?) was there until 6:38.
6:07 pm…Osprey on the nest.
So very excited to see them back! Do we know if this is the original parents from last year?
Woo-hoo!!!
Friday…3:59 pm…Osprey on the perch.
🙂
We had some mating activity going on today! Based on past Experience we should have eggs in a couple weeks.