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
Thank you, Mary, for noting the 8:30 p.m. feeding….went back to find it….
….the last feeding I saw earlier this evening the poor little
guy was being trampled by the big guys….I’m so relieved and glad that he got another
feeding tonight…. <3
One at edge of nest. Dad feeding it earlier. Mom has other two with her.
Hopefully little one is getting stronger.
Mom letting chicks explore on their own. Maybe they will have a few good weather days.
I know littlest one is eating but still seems very small.
I am very sad to see so much fighting going on between the big chicks…
I have never seen that before at this nest….There is always plenty of food
and no reason for it…. Even when there were four chicks there was no fighting….
I have seen the two larger ones fighting. I first noted on my 25th comment. I didn’t remember seeing this
In previous yrs.
I have just been watching Mom feeding. The little one was sitting in front and two bigger ones side by side
Behind it. So mom was feeding it. You GO little one. Lol
8:30 pm. Feeding time again & the little one sitting right there being fed. Hurrah! Dad has been doing a great job bringing fish & building up the nest.
Feeding around 9:15am…Littlest got a couple of bites.
We lost one baby today…..just heartbreaking 🙁 ……
Another one is very small compared to the others and
doesn’t seem to be getting fed very often ….not getting
up there for feeding like the big ones…. 🙁
The little one did get to eat a little tonight….
Oh no! Sorry to hear about the chick not making it. I hope the other can survive. I guess it was #4 that died? So sad, but better to lose one early than to see it suffer for a longer time, I guess.
This am, I finally saw babies. The two larger ones seemed ok. I think they were hiding the little one.
Mom or dad moved them & then I could see the little one. Maybe it will come thru the strongest
I saw 3 getting fed and half an egg shell. I guess the 4th hatched? I didn’t see it, but it’s hard to see at certain times of the day and I’m hoping it was hidden by the other 3.
I’m pretty sure I am seeing Four!! Sweet!!!
I just checked in on nest. Dad stayed on nest for awhile. Mom feeding, but she stayed between babies and camera. Dad flew away. Mom moved around a while. I could count three for sure & I think there was a 4th.
But they became a little bundle & then they were under mom.
I have been checking nest a lot today. Dad has been bringing in more twigs & working on nest.
Guess getting ready for more movement of babies. Mom left nest but dad came in immediately with
A good size fish. The two bigger babies have tested their strength against each other a few times. Lol
The third baby is still very small but mom feeding. This morning I thought I saw a 4th but now she was only feeding 3. They have been out in open a lot but Mom certainly covers them during rains.
Praying for protection from the Friday storms…..
Crappie for breakfast…am I only seeing two chicks being fed?
5/21…….3 babies at 5:54! I saw the pip last night.
Yay! I love their little striped backs.
I wonder if we’ll have 4…..
I sure hope so!!!
2 chicks this morning! May 19th
We had a hatch this afternoon!! Welcome, Sweet Baby and Congrats, Mom and Dad!!
How exciting.
Thanks Gail! I missed that. Here we go!
I thought I saw only 2 eggs today. Did something happen or are they just hidden?
At 5:34 there is a clear shot of all 4 eggs. After that, I can’t really see them due to Mom.
Happy to see everyone appears to have weathered the storms. The worst was just south of the nest. After last year the weather sure can make you anxious for our Ospreys.
Mom is getting pounded with rain. Saw small hail on nest. Please stay safe.
Yes, Becky!! I see four!! At 7:26 and 8:20…quick views….
Becky, are you on facebook? We post a lot of pictures there
on our Stockton site….
I think I saw egg #4 on time-lapse this morning, around 7:24. Not positive because it was a quick view.
Thanks, Becky….just getting here to check….sure hoping for #4 today!!
I am sure grateful for the sharp eyes of you and Gail. Great news 4 eggs.
4/15/20…I just saw 3 eggs at 9am. I’m sure it was laid earlier, but Couldn’t see it on the time lapse.
Great news! Wind is sure a-blowin’ and a-goin’ up there today.
3 eggs Yay! What good news and great spotting job Gail.
I don’t like it when she leaves the eggs! We know what happened last year!
Me neither!! I guess when a woman’s got to go she’s got to go….she wasn’t gone long enough to do much of anything else!! haha
4/12/20….. I see we have another egg this morning. I looked at the time lapse and saw it at 7am. It could have been laid sooner, but it wasn’t visible to me until 7. ….2 eggs now!
Egg #2 has arrived. I think it was around 6:50 this morning, but there is a very good view of it at 8:38. Yay!
I just saw your post Becky. Thanks for the time. I posted that I didn’t see it til 7. You have better eyes than me. Lol!
4/9/20….1st egg!!!! Looked like she laid it about 7:30am
Yay! It’s a good start. 🙂
Could it be I only see one tube sticking up? Hooray! Not sure why but they bug me.
It is nice to see it out of view, but I think it is still there. I watched the time-lapse from the last two days and it looks like it has been covered by a dollop of grass and a little greenery. Nest is shaping up nicely. Yay!
I will say this here and on facebook……I so appreciate all of the people in charge of this site.
Under normal circumstances it is a great thing, but now it is nice to have something pleasant to take our
focus off of what is going on all around us for a bits of time……… Thank You!!!
**bits of time…..not a bits of time! 😉
So agree Gail. It’s the first site I check every a.m. Thanks to all that have made this possible.
100% Agree!!!!
Looks like a little nest-building activity is beginning.
Both on nest @2:30-3:00
Two ospreys on the nest this morning!
Yay! I was getting a little worried. Let the fun begin. Sorry vultures,crows. and and egret your squatting days are over for now.
He’s Here!!! Or someone is!!
Well, I think this is a first. Crane on the nest at 8:35 this morning.
I am still just seeing one Osprey at a time on the nest so I
assume it’s still just mom waiting for dad’s arrival…..
Mom watching the sky a lot today…..
5:08 Dad?? Looks darker with a whiter chest…just the lighting or dad??
I guess time will tell!
On time lapse….she was here at 7:42 to chase off the vultures….
She’s here this morning on the perch eating her fish….
Our girl….we think…..landed at about 6:20pm tonight…What a beautiful sight!!
Check out the time lapse of 3-10-20 at 1820. Osprey on the nest. Yay!! I am amazed every year that at least one of them returns on March 10 or 11. How do they migrate so far and yet return to the exact same place exactly one year later? Absolutely amazing birds.
Looks like the black vultures have taken over for now. Better watch out, Ospreys will soon be back.
Looks like I made it passed the trap for now! haha
Thank you, Mike!
Testing….
Gail, Could you try to post a new comment please I want to see it it will post without getting caught.
Hi Mike…I will try both replying and commenting
Yesterday we had a Red Tail Hawk on the nest….Last night two owls….
Mike, thank you for getting the comment section functioning again!!
Testing…
I know this is still early, but was just checking in to see the condition of the nest and platform. Black vultures, turkey vultures and a small owl have all been frequent visitors to the nest lately. They will have to move on. 🙂 I hope the ospreys have a safe return and a much better season than last year’s sad outcome.
Ditto, Becky!!
Just checking to see if the comments are coming through yet….
SNOW!! guess no bluebirds–or ospreys today
Just checking in to see if the comments are showing up yet…
Turkey buzzard visiting nest today.
Camera is up!
Thanks, Mike, for keeping this camera up and running. I hadn’t checked it in a long time due to the chicks not making it, but here it is 8 weeks later and the mom and dad are still hanging out on the nest. It was wonderful to see them again. I will be checking it more often now as fall approaches to see when they migrate. Kudos to all involved to make this happen!
Just wanted to give everyone another update. We now have the problem resolved regarding our ISP Provider and getting the new router setup. That’s the Good News. Now for the Bad News, After fixing it on one end we found the other end (NEST) stopped talking so that means another part and another trip. Sorry for the delay but we are trying. Further updates as soon as I have anything to report.
Hey everyone! We spent the last two days fighting ticks and chiggers, and so on at the nesting site. Not to mention the rock crawling. So here is where we stand. Everything is now working at the nesting site. Hopefully it will stay that way. We have a problem in Greenfield that we attempted to correct but have been fighting our ISP provider as they were having issues with the storm yesterday. We ordered a new part and I expect to see it by early next week. If we get it and can get some cooperation from our ISP we should have Osprey Cam back up. Also, FYI while I was reviewing the video feeds yesterday we still have mom hanging around at least I think it was mom. Anyway……give me a few more days should have it resolved.
Thank you Mike and the crew for all your hard work.
Just a quick note. We went to Stockton Lake yesterday with boat and binoculars. The female osprey was sitting on the perch by the nest. Right across the cove there was an osprey nest with a mom, dad and at least 3 chicks that were peering out. It was nice to see a successful nest after the heartbreak of the camera nest.
when will the camera be fixed? I’m guessing lightning got it during the bad storms in Stockton area, so enjoy watching the Osprey..
The nest is still here…after more strong storms last night….
This nest has always been so successful in the past years but this year was certainly a struggle for this O family with all of the bad weather we have had. Can’t help but be angry at times with mother nature when it affects our lovely Osprey family here in Missouri. At least Mom and Dad seem to have weathered the storms thus far.
Is there any chance since it’s still early that they could have a a second mating and incubation? So sad to see the empty nest.
The baby is gone….mom was looking at it laying weak or lifeless and then continued to incubate for a while….
…at 7:48 or 49 I saw mom fly off and dad pick up the baby and fly off with it….. One of the saddest things I’ve
ever seen in Osprey watching. 🙁 I cannot get the time lapse to show it because of the two minute intervals……..
Thank you Gail. This is just so horribly sad. No chicks now after starting with 4 eggs.
Mom or Dad standing on nest. Will they or can they try again. Haven’t read regarding a second batch.