An update on the loafers at the quarry island visible from the Shrum Mound in Columbus. In viewing less than half of the island I could see there were 21 great egrets, 39 d-c cormorants, one g-b heron, and the two adult herring gulls who unsuccessfully nested here earlier. Offspring of the egrets and corms are spread out along the river. Back on 7/30 I asked about the behavior of immature ospreys along the river. Since then, I have learned that young ospreys often practice building nests before their first migration south, and that even adults will do so on occasion. I couldn't find out if photoperiod is a factor, or maybe just a coincidence. The osprey is the best-studied of our raptors, and there is lots of information I didn't consult. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ 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]