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 & Dad both on nest. Extremely windy moving nest, looked like it, looked as if it was difficult for Dad to stand in one place. Stay safe tonight Osprey family!!!!
One thing is for certain, we have to be fast to stay up with nest?And as it has been said “timing is everything”
Definitely Four now, Carol!!!
…and you guys have been making comments while I’ve been trying to get and edit pics! LOL
If anyone is interested there is a facebook page for “our” cam….
I think you have to request to join or maybe be friends with
someone to suggest you. The administrators keep it a closed
group because they have had troublemakers join on some other
sites…It is Stockton Mo. Ospreys….pictures, updates, etc from
viewers….
I just looked back & Mom was off nest. 4 eggs. Then she flew back & covered.
Great. I have not been able to see yet. Mom should have several days of great weather. Good job Mom.
I read in the comments about egg #4 showing up. I have been watching Mom carefully for awhile and she was not getting up so that I could see. But finally she just now got up and adjusted the eggs and YES there are definitely 4. Good job Mom!!!
I saw 4 eggs!
Hooray!! I’ll rewind and see if I can get a pic….. Thank you!!
I’m still just seeing 3, but, may not have found the exact time
you saw them….I’ll keep trying to see!!
Mom just scared off an intruder Osprey that almost landed
and then Dad came back with a fish….
Dad keeps flying off with the fish and then returning
so I assume he is still chasing off the intruder….
Maybe the hunters have all the O’s stirred up from
this morning!
Are there still 3 eggs? The cam is freezing and buffering so much I can’t watch.
People are below the nest again and mom is a nervous wreck!
Hubby just reminded me that it is turkey season,
so these are probably hunters…..
Thought they left after my last post,
but just saw them again….poor Mama!!
Mama has been nervously looking about for the time I’ve been
watching……and on rewind I do not see Daddy on all morning.
Hope everything is okay and he’s just staying away because
of a threat or something….
6:43am….People walking under nest and startled parent off nest for several minutes.
A red pickup truck just drove under the nest. Mom left and the eggs are unattended. Don’t know where the truck went but Mom just came back.
Looks like we still have 3 eggs at about 6:30am
Hoping to see if they have four eggs sometime Monday!
I was thinking the same thing. The cam is freezing and buffering a lot this morning, though.
Michael, will you be zooming in closer to the nest soon as in past years?
Actually, I guess it is already focused in closer than it was at the
beginning of the season…….
Well, scratch the last comment…..guess not….
It was dark when I was trying to see about that…. 🙂
I thought there might be a 3rd egg when I looked before I sent my last message. But way Mom was standing
I wasn’t 100% sure. Another great day!!
I just saw 3 eggs at 7:50pm!
I went back through the time lapse and it looked like there were 3 eggs at 6:35pm.
Yay….I kept rewinding and couldn’t tell….Thanks!!
Be safe tonight Momma and baby eggs. Really windy on nest. And forecast is concerning.
Safety to you too Dad.
Ditto!!
Mom standing this am. I saw only two eggs.
I thought they looked like pine needles. I used to have pine trees & used the needles in my gardens instead of mulch. Very soft.
Does anyone know what the reddish brown stuff is near the Mom on the nest? I keep getting buffering and can’t really see. Almost looks like feathers.
Near as I can tell, it looks like dead leaves to me. That wind is really blowing her around today.
On the time-lapse at 11:32 on slowest speed, it looks like Dad has brought leaves to the nest. Unfortunately, all his hard work was for naught. The wind quickly blew them away.
Two eggs still in nest. Mom standing up. Good view.
Yes, definitely two beautifully colored eggs. Mom & Dad both on nest. Adjusting some of the twigs.
I saw 2 eggs at 7:05!
I just logged on for my morning look-see and YES there are 2 eggs. Way to go Mom!!!
Am I seeing two eggs??
I think what I was seeing was her foot…. 🙂
Looked back again. Mom trying to cover white tubes with nest mat’l. Then she settled down on egg again.
Tubes have been bothering them this season.
Checked nest just now. One standing up & then flew off, leaving egg open to view. Then 2nd one flew onto nest
& stood, then other one flew in with some twigs. I believe egg is deformed or has been broken. Hope I’m wrong.
Mom on perch, Dad adjusting egg. Only saw one (looked like a copper colored egg). Left the egg exposed for what seemed like a long time exposed to cold. Dad flew up on top of Mom & then flew off. Mom flew back to egg & finally settled again. Hope there is not a problem w/egg.
I have been told that they can be off of the egg some….I guess they know
exactly how long……and see them do that on other Osprey nests, so hopefully
it’s fine. My mama bluebird does that too…..
Looks like tom turkey and hens made another appearance around 8:45 this morning. Love the time lapse…..otherwise would have missed that.
So I added a new feature I think you will all like.
If you select the Time Lapse Image on the left you can pick the day you want to look at or the long time lapse at the top scrolls through all the time lapses at about 6 pics per day. At the bottom right you can adjust the playback speed, Take a snap Shot, or Download the Time Lapse. You can also drag the time bar to get to the snap shot you want to save. Check it out if you have any issues or problems figuring it all out let me know.
Enjoy!
Very cool feature! We get to see what goes on up there during the day and night when we can’t always be watching it real time. Poor Momma! Saw the snow coming down over the nest. Hope she can keep things warm enough up there for the egg.
What a great feature Mike. Thank you.
That is great! Thank you!!
Mama was up rearranging a few min ago, but I missed a pic
of the egg. A very pretty egg, by the way! Now she has been
back down for a bit and Dad is here hanging out……
We have 1 egg
Poor Mom, nesting in the snow as flurries still fly.
Hooray!!!
Hope U R correct Gail. I checked nest several times today & Mom was on nest. (at least I think it was Mom)?
I’m thinking an egg should be coming soon, but hope they wait until after
this weekend now…….
Mom and dad on nest @ 8:11 am.
Just now one on nest & talking a lot. Didn’t see anything else on ground or in sky
Sometimes watching what goes on in the background is as much fun as watching the Osprey family. Right now there is a tom turkey strutting for 3 hens on the road down below.
So that’s what they are! Was trying to figure it out. Also saw what looked to be a fox scampering from one side of the road to another.
There were 4 deer out yesterday evening.
Mom on nest covering one of the tubes. Dad flew in. Mom left nest. Came back w/nest material. While both were on nest, there was one on utility pole and one flying around.
Mom on nest really talking & looking around. Dad flew in and began to watch sky. I didn’t see anything flying
Around.
The nest is taking shape….They are getting some good side walls built up…..
There’s only one pipe now, they must have pulled the other one out.
They keep covering it up and then it miraculously reappears!! LOL
I was wrong, there are still two, the other one was covered up. They do need to go!
Mom on nest. Really windy & cold. She needs more sticks around top so she can snuggle in
Yay!! Cams are back!!
Hope the cams get some sunshine soon!
I’m with you, Gail. We could all use a little sunshine. LOL Enough of the gloom, cold and wet. For a little bit anyway.
Ditto!
This coming Fall if we have our big truck in the area I will try to have them remove the tubes. I was sort of hoping the birds could pull them out this year. Maybe they will cover them up but they don’t seem to be doing as much nest building this year.
Thank you…..whatever you think is best for the O’s and their nest….
I have noticed,too they seem to behind nest building compared to other nests I have seen. Those tubes have always bugged me.
It looks like the camera is covered in ice, it’s doing the same thing here, about 60 miles away.
Oh yippee! I just checked the webcam and saw one of the adults!! This is the first I have checked in this year and I am SO happy to see one of our beloved ospreys!! Happy Easter everybody! Can’t wait to watch this nest again this year – it will be my third year now!! Hope this year is as successful as the past two years!!
If U zoom in, both tubes R still on nest
They are! Maybe they got that one to bend over enough to put material
on top of it…… hopefully……
Love is in the air 3:35.
Yay!!
These two have some catching up to do compared to the amount of sticks the other nests seem to have, but it might just be the angle. Here looking down and the others looking up. I am sure these two know what they are doing.
Yes, they are great parents!! Last year, they raised 4 chicks.
Has a tube been dislodged??? I thought the second one was there a few minutes ago…..hmmm……
If so, maybe it was loose from all of the rain…….?
Yay! One down and one to go. Not sure why but the tubes have always bugged me.