Osprey Live Stream, Stockton, Missouri
For optimal viewing, please use Google Chrome
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
My iPad spelled for me again. That is conservation .
Thank you very much Mary for the information. I feel it is great when companies invest in projects like this making it possible for so many to enjoy this experience. Thank you Empire and Mid Central.
The babies look so sweet & innocent while sleeping at night. But they certainly give mom & dad a busy time in daytime feeding & keeping track of them in nest.
Click on the Missouri dept of conversation website (toward bottom of screen). Gives a lot of info. Describes markings etc. hope this helps..
How do we tell the male from the female?
I agree it is fun to watch them grow. I keep tabs on them several times a day. It is interesting how the parents take care of them. Will look forward to their first attempts at flying.. Thank you all for your information, comments and updates!
NEXT CRITICAL DATE: For those that are keeping track, based on the information I have and the hatching date, the next dates we need to look at is July 10-20. At this time the babies should be getting their wings about them and taking their first test flights. Should be interesting. Can hardly believe how fast they are growing.
Hi all,
Greater Ozarks Audubon did a nesting Osprey survey on the south side of Stockton Reservoir in Dade and Cedar counties today. We had 7 confirmed nesting sites.
In one area near Bona, MO, and the 245 bridge across Stockton Reservoir, we observed three nests, each with 2 adults and young, along a ONE mile stretch of power transmission lines. We also had a single adult osprey on a cross beam in the same stretch of power lines.
In another location near Ruark Bluff Campground East, we observed 2 confirmed nesting pairs within 1/4 miles of each other. We know from this Osprey Nest Cam at https://mclivetech.com/ospreycam/ that one of those nests has 3 young.
Between the two locations described above there is another confirmed nest on the arm of the lake just west of Bona.
So if each of these six nests has an average of 2 chicks/nest, there are 25 Osprey within a 10 mile stretch of road from the 245 Bridge near Bona to Ruark Bluffs Campground.
Later, on N Highway NE of Lockwood, we observed our 7 confirmed osprey nest on the top of a cell phone tower no where near the reservoir!
Wow thanks for the information!
Wow thanks for all this great info. I discovered we had ospreys last year when I saw the nest west of Bona. Got to see one of the parents really go after a Great Blue Heron. This is so much fun. And thank you Mike.
Wonderful!!
Great this A M 8:45. Mom had little ones covered. Dad flew in w/ fish. Babies began squirming & she begins the feeding
CAMERA AVAILABILITY – Just thought I’d let everyone know, If you cannot access the cameras during the early morning hours check back a little later (Lately its been around 10am). The weather has been somewhat of a challenge with the rain and overcast skies and the camera and communications are powered 100% by Batteries charged by solar panels. Multiple days of cloudy weather prevent adequate charging of the batteries during daytime hours which results in the electronics shutting down to prevent excessive discharge and damage to the batteries. Even with very low light levels the solar panels will typically provide enough energy to run the equipment during daytime hours but often does not provide significant charging and therefore equipment will shutdown during nighttime hours. If the camera is not available when you check on it, just check back a little later and it will likely be up.
There are only 3 babies, there were only 3 eggs, either one was slightly odd shaped or there was something else near the eggs that was being mistaken for an egg. 3 Eggs is the average for most Osprey its pretty rare to see more than 3 from the literature I have read.
Why is the camera not connecting, really enjoy watching the babies grow
Interesting to watch mom & dad shore up nest higher as babies are getting larger & moving around quite a bit . Thanks for placing latest messages at top!
I finally got to see the babies today. I saw three. Is there a 4th? Love their little white stripes.
Would it be possible to rearrange the comment section so that the most recent comments are at the top?
Both adults left the nest around 4pm but returned together. They brought back food for the hungry chicks. It was a great chance to see the babies.
Thanks Mike for the information. Was glad to hear it wasn’t just my computer. Great that you guys are providing this for us.
Mike, thank you for your comments. I do think it is great that we have the opportunity to watch the ospreys. I very much enjoy!
The Streaming problems are a result of the connection between the Nest and the ISP site. We would like to improve it but are very limited since we cannot disturb the birds while they are nesting. We are hoping that improvements can be made during the fall migration but for now we have to deal with current equipment and geographic limitations.
Great shot of babies feeding at 3:45 pm. Has anyone seen a 4th? I, too, R. Having streaming problems
Dad just brought home the fish. Feeding time for the Babies and they look hungry
I am also having streaming issues. Tried Chrome as suggested. Have 50Mbps connection . Hoping it improves with increased traffic now that young are present.
Both adults in nest, moving around, feeding three babies. Hard to see because picture keeps freezing and I need to reload.
Saw 2 Hatchlings at 6:39 pm
I havent been able to see the babies yet but I will keep looking out for them.
I really like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and exposure!
Keep up the very good works guys I’ve included you guys to my personal blogroll.
Three babies for sure! She has been feeding for quite a while 7:30 pm
Definitely saw 2 squirmy babies. Couldn’t see if there were more.
The bird seems very restless this evening and interested in whatever is underneath. Thanks for sharing this experience with us.
Two babies today. Possibly three. I thought I saw one on Sat but not sure. Adults were on nest a lot Sat & again today
I thought I just saw a baby!
Joe,
We have a prize pack for being the first person to comment on the hatching chicks. Please contact us at [email protected] or call 417-625-5185. Thanks for taking interest in our efforts to preserve nature and be leader in providing safe and reliable electric service.
-The System Performance Group
thanks for the great info
My family and I have been watching the nest for a while now and enjoy seeing them.
I havent been able to see if any of the eggs have hatched. If you have seen them please tell me.
Today when checking in I got to see a deer below. This is just so cool!
The is a secondary camera to view wildlife from and occasioning on of the Ospreys will land in the tree to eat a fish. Click on the WOW link to view down the Right of Way. I have seen a flock of Turkey walk through usually around 9am and the Deer like to graze there in the morning too.
Thanks Jason for cluing me in on the Wow camera. Did see an osprey out on a limb.
Wow just saw the changing of the guards.
The male arrived without food, stayed a couple of minutes and then left. Constructed platforms were very common in the East. I have seen very few in the Midwest. Thanks for you public spirit and you help in preserving the nest of a fascinating raptor that rarely nests in our area.
Yep, Look like four eggs, forth one sometime late on 16th early on 17th. Should be interesting.
I have watched several Osprey cams for the last few years from other states. It is exciting to have one close to home! Thank you!
Interesting that it took from April 4 to the 17th to lay 4 eggs. The most young I’ve seen fledged from an osprey nest out there is 2. The story is yet to be written. It will be an interesting adventure. Thanks again for providing us all a glimpse into the world of wildlife!
Both of the osprey pair were just there (4:30 p.m) I have often seen osprey nesting on platforms in the Clearwater, FL area when I visited my sister there. Thanks for giving us the chance to see them in Missouri.
I THINK WE SHOULD NAME THE OSPREY…AND SUGGESTIONS?
Romeo and Juliet. And when the offspring arrive, we could give them other famous Shakespeare character names. I really like your idea.
Yes, I adore your idea!!!
It looks like we have 4 eggs in the nest 4-17-15 at 13:50
yes!
First Egg was April 8th, Second Egg April 13th, Third Egg April 14th – The Average is 3 for most Osprey Pairs so more are possible but unlikely. The eggs are laid at different times so that hatch at different times making one chick dominant. Where there is adequate food supply this is usually not an issue but if food supply is marginal the younger chicks are often left out. Nature is sometimes difficult to watch. Expect hatching to begin around May 13th through 27th.
Note: Prior to April 13th there was an object that looked very much like an egg, we also mistook it for an egg and found we were in error. It however was not an egg. First Egg was in fact laid on April 13th.
Thanks for the work your line men do nice to see them have some time putting up this box and the cam with solar power . And letting us get to watch a little life in the spring and learn about a Osprey . I just started after the News Leader shared it with us. Dennis Ragsdale
Greg, the first indication of an egg occured on April 4th. My screenshot indicates it was around 6pm
Three eggs in the nest 4/14/2015 at 13:03 CDT. Both birds have been in the nest a good part of the day.
A friend reported 2 eggs present at 1:34 pm.
Fish in the nest at 1:21 pm today.
I saw an egg today at 7:59 pm, April 12. Anyone notice it on any previous day?
You get a big thank you from me,also. I so appreciate your efforts to save the nest and now allow us to view this wonder.
I am so glad to see Empire’s devotion to conservation. Thank you so much.
I am enjoying watching the osprey. I wasn’t aware of their presence in MO.
Jim Fossard, did you grow up on Bennett St. in Springfield?
Thank you for sharing your site and your commitment to nature.
John Waugaman
Huntington, WV
by way of the MO Birding Listserv
(seasonal birder in the Columbia, MO area)