This is the third year I have surveyed communication towers across Geauga
County for Osprey nesting.  Here's how the numbers compare:



In 2016 there were 8 active nests, 16 adults and 10 confirmed (seen).



In 2017 there were 12 active nests, 24 adults and 16 confirmed chicks.



In 2018, after two visits (5/31 and 6/19) there are 12 active nests, 1
unsure (two adults on 5/31 but none today), 25 adults and 12 chicks
confirmed so far.  The chicks are still small and some may have been at the
bottom of the nest.  I watched each tower for 15 minutes (less if I saw 2
adults and 2 chicks) in order to give the chicks a chance to show
themselves.  In a couple weeks they will be perched on the edge of the nest
and easier to count.



I will be making one or  two more visits to try to get a firm handle on
chicks and that one unconfirmed nest.



One interesting point I shared last year is that most of these nests are
within 1 - 2 miles of a large lake or river (LaDue, E. Branch, Bass Lake,
Punderson, Moss Beach Club and the Upper Cuyahoga River).  Two nests are
about 3 miles but there are large ponds between their tower and the lake,
and they may be using those for fishing.  I visited 15 other towers across
the county but they had no nests and were outside the 2 - 3 mile limit.





Matt Valencic





"It is in giving that we receive."




______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.


You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]