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
One parent on perch & one on nest. No young’uns
Guess that answers my question below! So glad they are both still here…
It’s so sad when they start leaving….
Parent still on perch at 12:15. I had not been able to see any on nest for awhile.
…and still there…..do you think mom might have left and dad is looking for her?
Looks like a parent on the perch….It is windy with some rain…..
One adult on the perch around noon today. It’s getting harder to tell the young ones from their parents.
Haven’t been able to catch our “O” family on nest yesterday or today. Only a couple of black birds.
Both parents on the nest at 8:18 am…..
On rewind I see that one or two were here off and on all day….sometimes with a fish…..
I’m so glad they are still here…..I wonder if Mom is……
I forgot that there was pic of both parents on facebook yesterday! 🙂
Three black crows checking out the nest around 2:20 this afternoon.
One bird on the perch and fresh greenery in the nest.
One kiddo on perch eating fish. It was raining but kiddo just kept on eating.
Between 12:51 & 12:56 pm today I decided to check on the family. One bird on the nest with fish, but in the background on the road below to the right hand side was a doe. She just stood there for a moment looking around and then started heading this direction. She meandered through the weeds a bit, still on the right hand side and suddenly from the bottom of the screen, out popped her fawn that came trotting up. Then they got out of view behind the nest. Something must have spooked them cause then they ran off. Sometimes looking in the background is as good as looking at the nest.
Three on the nest at 10 AM. Love the time lapse. Often looking at an empty nest, but time lapse shows they are still coming and going and still often showing up between 6:00 and 6:30 AM.
Mom on nest with fish. Youngster on perch with fish. Good fishing!
Mom on perch trying to hang on. Wind & rain really hitting her.
But she managed to hang on to her fish and resumed eating it after the storm had passed!
All three offspring enjoying breakfast this morning in nest or on perch.
Mom on nest w/one kiddo was actually feeding it. Hadn’t seen that for awhile.
Mom on perch eating a big fish. Nest empty.
Both adults at nest site, so all 5 are accounted for. Thanks, Mary, for your post about the 3 young ones. I was able to watch the time lapse and see them together. It is reassuring to know they are ALL doing well.
Three kiddos on nest, one eating fish, one on perch, one standing guard.
I have noticed the shape many times. Also notice lake levels are lower as more land showing in some areas
I ‘m able to catch the ospreys on nest from time to time. Been a long time since I have seen five on nest at one time.
As anyone else noticed on the right hand bottom side along the lake there is a dark image that looks like a brontosaurus dinosaur.
I’m amazed at how keen-eyed and observant you are (and Mary, too)! I never noticed that and even with your description had a bit of a time finding it.
Jurassic Park here????
Our Loch Ness Stockton monster!
🙂
I do love the time-lapse. The nest might be empty at night, but one of the 5 birds fairly consistently shows up at 6 AM every day, often with a fish.
One of the kiddos was on the perch this evening. He/she stretched its legs and wings, flew away, circled the lake, and in less than a minute, came back to the perch with a fish! That’s one quick learner!
Time lapse is back. Thanks! Boats on the lake at night and greenery delivered early morning to the nest.
Sure do miss the time lapse feature. Wonder what happened to it?
Yeah, I really miss it, too. It helped to see more of the activity going on at the nest during the course of the day and night. Full moon there last night.
Mom or Dad on nest & one kiddo on perch.
Fresh greenery delivered to the nest daily.
Young one on the perch with fish. Gosh, are they ever good at catching fish!
We went to Stockton Lake yesterday with boat, binoculars and camera. We were able to see several of our osprey family “in person”. An adult was in the nest and a young one was on the perch. We quietly went into the cove where we had seen the dad last May. There was another of the young ones sitting near the water’s edge, perched in an old dead tree. We stopped about 100 feet away and watched each other for a bit. I took some photos, too. He or she is quite big. Would have looked like an adult except for the speckled feathers. Very cool!!!
There is another nest across a cove nearby and there were two sitting on it. Great day to spend at the lake!
That is wonderful! I loved it when we saw them, but haven’t made it there this year.
Just got back from a trip to the east coast and there were several nests on low platforms
close to the shore……so much fun to see and watch them up so close!!
Mom & one kiddo on nest. Kiddo had a big fish.
Two kiddos on nest & one on perch. Mom or Dad flew in w/small fish . One kiddo was greedy. He picked it up
& walked away & wouldn’t let other have a bite. Then one kiddo flew off, then M or D flew off. Kiddo flew back to perch. M or D landed on utility pole. Was exciting to finally see one kiddo in flight.
Two fledglings hunkered down in nest getting pummeled by wind and rain.
All three in nest – two so close they looked like one.
We had 2 really powerful storms rip thru the area. Looks like the cam is down. Happy these happened now, then when the family was still little. Curious to see how the nest fared.
All three fledglings on nest. Sky is getting dark. Maybe some rain on the way?
Mom just flew in with a big clump of weeds, root ball included.
Entire family on the nest (or perch) finishing breakfast.
Just checked in to see one adult and two chicks on the nest. One chick is eating a fish and the second chick is standing there like it is waiting to be fed, but being totally ignored by sibling. It is obvious that one chick is not going to feed the other. You are on your own now guys!!!
Onły saw one on perch. Think it is Mom. Not certain though.
Nest empty.
Same feeling here. I have checked nest several times today just in case one or all are on it.
Maybe later at dinner time.
They’re all on the nest now—eating.
Empty nest syndrome.
I think Mom on perch. & one chick barely on edge of nest.
Mom is on nest with one kiddo eating a fish.
One on perch. Nest empty. Really windy
I have enjoyed watching this year. How many nests are there around Stockton Lake?
Mom & 3 kiddos on nest eating fish.
It’s very windy…
One baby on the nest, one on the perch. 🙂
I couldn’t watch cam this a.m. so missed final flight. I, too, have enjoyed this nest I think for 3rd year.
I wish the Osprey family a safe future.
And big thank you for those who were able to set this up for us, and to all those who write in. I
Love reading comments and believe if I have a question, someone can give me an answer.
Ditto!! Many thanks!!
Wonderful!! …..for him…sad for us!!
Just wanted to send out a BIG thank you to Mike, Empire District Electric and Mid Central Contractors for making this all possible again this year! Lovin’ watching the osprey chicks get launched again!
I second what Becky says. Watching the Osprey family the last two years has been exciting, educational and just plain FUN. Our birds are so lucky to have such a pristine environment to raise their young. And thanks to all of the other folks that watch. I love reading your comments.