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
The babies are getting so big that Mom has trouble shading them. There is enough room for them to get their heads and upper bodies in the shade if she stands just right.
Mom is feeding her babies and dad comes in to the nest with a stick and continues to put more rails on the crib! The whole family is together and what a treat to see them all!
love “rails on the crib” So true!
I can’t believe how BIG the babies have gotten just over the past week! They are growing so fast now!
Looks like the family is sprucing up the old place this a.m.
I have checked your page and i’ve found some duplicate content, that’s why you don’t rank high in google, but there is a tool that can help you to create 100% unique articles, search for: SSundee advices unlimited content for your blog
Mombrella shading her chicks on this sunny day at the nest!!
Dad on nest this morn w/rest of family. Must have brought a fresh fish. Then he was talking to something off nest & flew off. Young’uns looked still sleepy & not moving much.
Mom on perch. Young’uns on nest looking relaxed.
Was watching earlier as one of the chicks is trying to stand and walk on it’s feet. Just like a toddler, taking a shaky step or two and then falling over. They are growing so fast.
Both parents on the nest on this beautiful day at the lake. The babies are hot and trying to hide under Mom. Mom takes the remaining half fish from Dad and begins to feed the babies. These babies are so lucky that food seems to be so plentiful at this nest.
Today was great for no buffering. Was able to watch Mom & dad work on nest, I guess building it up like last year,feeding youngsters. & just enjoying. Tonight youngsters spread out on nest. Wings R getting big.
Amazing great shots of nest & babies (not so much anymore). No buffering. Mom flying off nest. Seemed to be working on nest.
Babies R getting so big. I checked in & had a few seconds to see them before the buffering began again.
It was really windy
They make so nervous when they hang out so close to the edge of the nest like right now. I still have to deal with that confounded buffering,too.
Mom and Dad acting as umbrellas this morning to shield the chicks from the Sun.
Dad trying to position an enormous twig on outer rim of nest. Chicks getting in the way. Mom flies in, picks up the other end, and helps position it. They get it done. These two are an amazing team!
Now having breakfast or snack. One little chick is kind of stuck between fork of branch they brought into the nest. Mom does not like it’s placement.
Buffering problem seems to have resolved itself this evening. I hope it has for everyone else, as well. Those little chicks are getting BIG!
May have spoken too soon. 🙁
Marlene, I, too, am thankful to be able to view the nest. I am so enjoying. With my IPad I can zoom in & love
Getting up close & personal to babies. Lol.?
The last 2-3 days I have been unable to view the nest because of buffering
Same here with the buffering. I always have some problems but lately worse. Sure would be glad if broadband ever gets to rural Missouri. I am thankful for getting to view what I do get to see.
I have been checking the time lapse footage trying to figure out when the egg was last seen. On Wednesday when there were problems with the camera I last could see the egg at 7:48 am and then it skips to 12:02 pm and I could not see the egg after that.
I looked at the time lapse from the 30th. It looks to me as if the egg was rolled to the edge of the nest closest to the camera and then covered up with nesting material and twigs. (There has been lots of nest building going on in the last few days.) I hope it doesn’t explode at some point as Gail mentioned a few days ago! Yuck!
I sure am enjoying the time-lapse cam feature. Thanks to whomever made it possible.
Mom hunkering down on nest, protecting the chicks from rain. Looks like breakfast will be late this morning.
Poor Mom – Dad came in with half of a fish and as she started feeding the kids, one of them pooped and it went all over her. No sweat though as she just keeps on feeding the kids!!
I’ve had trouble w/buffering today also. I haven’t been able to see egg. Is it still on nest.
I was just checking this morning. Mom is feeding the kids and I see no egg. I wonder what they did with it?
Much buffering trouble today but as of 7:41 pm, both parents on nest and chicks being fed once again.
Mom fed babies. Trying to shade them. Dad was helping this morning. I checked nest several times today but camera was buffering each time I tried.
I was also having trouble yesterday with buffering. Thought it was just my computer. Looks like the cam is down altogether this morning.
Mom and Dad both feeding chicks this evening and providing shade for the little ones.
Looks like two of babies were sleeping beside Mom’s head tonight. 3rd one may have been there also,
but I could only see two back stripes.
Babies snuggled together. Must have eaten. Mom standing watch. Egg still on nest.
Once again, breakfast served before sunrise. What a good provider Dad is!
Those little babies do gather around when it comes time to eat. Seems like they are always hungry.
I wonder how long the parent birds will wait for the 4th egg to hatch. Then, when they decide that nothing is going to happen with it…………what will they do with it?
At other nests I’ve seen they sit on the egg(s) a long time….
I’m asking if anyone remembers how long.
They just leave them in the nest…..one year one got so
hot in the summer that it exploded and there is video
of it…..you can google …. exploding osprey egg, dunrovin….to see it.
Looks like they have a large crappie to eat today! Mom ripped the head off of it, tore it into tiny bits and fed all three hatchlings for a while, then flew off. Babies went sound asleep after she left. They’ll eat the rest of the fish later I suppose.
Mom standing to one side to give the well-fed and sleepy chicks some air on this sultry evening. She put her ear to the egg and briefly turned it and then resumed watch over the nest.
Maybe not 4. I thought I saw 4 stripes. Must have been an arm. Baby No 1 is growing.
I think there R 4 babies on nest at 7:00 pm
5:43 am and Dad has already brought a fish and Mom is feeding the three lively little ones. Unhatched egg still in evidence.
I guess that 4th egg isn’t going to hatch.
At this point it is probably better if the 4th egg did not hatch. Not to sound cruel but the poor little guy would be so far behind the others it might not make it anyway. I would much sooner see the egg not hatch than watch a little one die. I remember how much we all worried over little baby #4 last year.
I agree Sharon.
Mom is getting pounded W/rain. It looked very windy also. Stay safe Osprey family & all others in area
Looks like it is still raining and very windy…..Mom is hunkered down…. 🙁
Dad flew in on nest. Two babies immediately came out from under Mom. But, Dad did not bring a fish.
He flew off again. Maybe this time.
I have to chuckle watching Mom trying to wrangle all the little ones underneath her. She puffs her wings out and moves them around and wiggles and waddles. It is so cute to watch. Probably no fun for her though. Then all of sudden a little head pokes out from under someplace else. I do not remember the babies from last year being this active so early.
Sweet!!
Mom is feeding three…..Dad brought a second fish a bit ago
and mom didn’t need it so he left with it……the egg has been
moved to the front right corner….
7am…Egg hasn’t hatched and Mom is feeding the 3 chicks.
Interesting When I went back to nest only Mom & babies & egg on nest. Then Dad flew back on nest. Really looking & talking to something on left. I panned out. Dad flew off & there was another bird in air. They flew out over trees Dad chasing it.
6:18 pm. Mom still feeding 3. Dad on nest also. I remember last year we had a 4th late. & was worried it it would make it. I sure hope this one does.
Mom was feeding the three chicks and then took a quick fly-about, circling over the trees and back to the nest. Like Sharon, I wonder if the fourth egg is going to hatch.
I am beginning to wonder if that 4th egg is going to hatch. And if it does that poor little guy is going to be way behind.
Mom is using her umbrella to shade babies.
Mom is shading the babes….
Dad arrived with another fish while Mom was feeding the chicks. The youngest chick took a tumble, but righted itself quickly. Mom is making sure each one gets fed.
3 hungry chicks being fed at 5:50am.
Never mind! LOL
We might have a hatch….trying to see on my phone…muy dificil!!…but, looks like part of the egg to the right if mom.