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
Mom & I think baby on nest. Mom began really talking & I saw a shadow fly over nest. Must not have been
A family member.
10:10 am. One kid on nest one on perch. Maybe Mom sent one in to keep watch while she took break
One on perch flew off but came back quickly
8:00. Mom plus one on nest
Only Mom this morning on nest when I checked in at 7:48 AM. =) What a joy it is to watch this nest! Missing the audio though. I love all the racket of an Osprey family! LOL!
9:50 pm. Only one on perch. Maybe Mom trying to sleep. Probably thinking we made it!! It has been great
Watching this nest. What a success. Hope they all stay healthy & return to nest for a while.
Somebody is on the perch right now but I am not sure who it is!! This has been incredible to watch this family and the nestlings grow into fledglings. I already miss seeing all of them in the nest together but I am so happy for all of them and am so glad Inky Dink took to flight!! Keep safe babies and don’t get into any trouble!
One on the perch now and a lonely fish on the nest. haha
Mom and one kiddo with a fish on the nest.
….guess he got tired of feeding himself…..now mom is feeding him and herself….
….and he’s off….
Nest empty. Mom on perch actively scanning the sky.
It’s amazing they survived all the spring storms and possible owl attacks. It’s been a privilege to watch nature at it’s best!
Houston, we have lift off!!!! 🙂
Yipee!!! Hooray!!!! I am so proud of our Opsrey family. What an experience this has been watching from the beginning all the way up until now.
All babies gone. 3 on the pole to the right.
The nest is empty! Inky Dink has flown!
Mom (or dad) and 3 on the nest…..
One lone baby left in the nest. And Mom is still feeding it. Hopefully it will not be long before it joins the others in flight.
11:30 pm……I think mom is on the perch and a bit ago two kids went for a late evening fly about and didn’t come back for bedtime. 🙁
Kids are passing around a fish. Share and share alike…..very polite!! 🙂
I do think little one is waiting for a turn, though……maybe another fish will come in…..
Mom on nest w/ baby only. Another flew on nest. Maybe no. 3. 11:30 am
All youngsters observing curfew this evening. Mom (or Dad) is in the nest with them.
Has anyone seen No 3 fly yet. Seems to always be on nest with baby. Acting like protector maybe.
A few minutes ago, only one chick was in the nest and another was on the perch. I am guessing the one on the perch was number 3. Not sure if it has flown further than that. He seems to be a homebody.
10:55 am. Two kiddos on nest. Mom brought fish. Saw 3 on utility pole.
9:38 am….Two kids on the nest….two out playing in the neighborhood, I guess….
7:25 am. Mom & 3 kiddos on nest, 1 kiddo on perch & Dad flew in w/fish.
Four kids on the nest……mom or dad brought a fish and just left it with them to handle! Sweet!
4:30 pm six on nest. Big happy family. Mom feeding one.
4:35 pm. I saw Dad fly off then one baby, then second baby. Babies flew to utility pole.
3:10 pm. 3 on nest two on utility pole. One on pole was Mom or Dad. Couldn’t tell on other one
Gail, you listed same dates I have logged. I had not noted AM/PM on my log so not sure.
Thank you!!
*The timing on the 18-19th eggs is questionable to me. Could be am/pm timing, but have never seen eggs laid two days in a row .
These are some dates I have noted from observation and chat…does anyone have corrections to these?
Eggs….April 11, 14, 18, 19(?)
Hatches….May 19, 20, 22, 24
Thanks!!
All four youngsters back in the nest with Mom. They seem to be worn out and are resting.
I finally got to see 3 of the birds fly and Inky Dink really flaping it’s wings in the nest. What’s to be out with the brothers or sisters. LOL. I still can’t tell who is male or female.
Glad to see you back, Mindy!! I did not think you would want to miss the fledging. My husband has started calling two of the birds Orville and Wilber (the first 2 to take flight). LOL
12:20 pm. Watched nest for awhile. One on perch, three on nest w/Mom. Finally one took off. Flew
Short distance, came back, then took off again. Thought it might be baby but not certain.
Two on the nest at 6:04am. One was already gone and the other flew off from the perch.
Dad brought a fish and flew away. Youngster #3 is feeding Inky Dink!
I sure with I could have seen Inky Dink being fed by one of his siblings!!
Quick note. I watch nest on my IPad so I can zoom/stretch screen & see utility pole pretty good!
6:15 pm. 3 babies (lol) on nest. I checked out the utility pole & there were 3 sitting on top
So guess 4th joined Mom & Dad.
Two “babies” in nest, one on the perch, and the other out and about.
I thought there was last year but have never been able to pick up sound this year
I noticed earlier that one of young’uns beaks was moving so looked like it was calling also
Was there ever sound to this nest? I thought there was last year but can’t remember. It would be wonderful if there was sound!
There was sound in the beginning, but then something happened to it about the same time that we lost the camera for a few days.
When I looked back on nest. Dad had left. But I saw two birds on utility pole
Rest on nest
Oops, correction – looks like only one is out on a fly-about because I couldn’t see the 3rd baby behind mom trying to get some shade! So, three babies in the nest with mom and then dad just stopped in to check on everyone and then flew off again. Not sure if he had a fish in his talons or not!
2:45 pm. Mom & Dad both on nest and 3 not so little ones. I believe Inky Dink was being shielded from
sun by Mom. Mom & Dad looking up & around I assume for No. 1 to return.
I noticed too, that Mom keeps looking upward and is probably trying to keep track of her baby that is out and about. It’s amazing to me how both parents can keep track of their babies so well!! These two are just the most wonderful parents and I love that Dad is so involved – I guess you have to be when you have 4 kids to care for!
Mom is on the nest right now with two of her kiddos while two must be out on a fly-about! Boy, mom and dad are going to be busy keeping track of the comings and goings of their kids for awhile now!
The one that just flew back is really breathing fast. He stayed up quite a while so I’m sure he’s tired but enjoyed every minute of his first flight.
Wonderful to see such a successful nest ! When so many others are not doing as well !
Finally just saw one fly back to nest. Interesting, though also saw Mom fly off utility pole once her baby landed
Safely.
8:50 am 4 on nest. Mom or Dad flew off nest made a wide circle & flew to utility pole
I watched for awhile but missed 4th on coming back to nest.
At 8:10 I only see three, the other must be flying!
8:00 am. 3 on nest & Mom & fish
At about 6:30am the chick that was on the perch flew off and circled the nest several times, then landed on the nest.
All present and accounted for at 6am. One of the youngsters is on the perch.
That youngster is so big, I thought it was Mom but now that there is more light, I can see it has white tips on its feathers. Glad all chicks are accounted for!
It’s hard to tell who is who in low light. Had the one on the perch fledged yet? If not, he did at about 6:30 this morning.
Not sure if the one on the perch flew any further than that yesterday but looks as if he did so today. Yay!
Only three on the nest this morning as dawn breaks. Mom on the perch.