The nest here at Lake Massabesic is a man-made nest which was built in December of 1997 in the hope of attracting a young pair to the lake. The nest is designed to exactly mimic a real osprey nest.
In 1998, a young pair of ospreys briefly took up residence in late April. In 1999, the same pair was back by April 11 and immediately set about nesting. Within 9 days they had laid their first egg and after 40 days of incubation the first chick hatched on May 31. This was the first time that ospreys had nested anywhere in southern interior NH in living memory.
The female feeds a chick.
|
| Photo by J. Munier |
Two chicks hatched and thrived. On July 8, biologists placed special coded leg-bands on the chicks. This is the first time that ospreys have been banded in NH. These bands will allow us to identify these chicks if they return to breed in the area. Blood samples were also taken for contaminant analysis. The chicks took their first flights on July 24 and migrated in September.
Ospreys are very faithful to their nesting sites and we expect our nesting pair to return year after year to this nest allowing us to watch these spectacular birds for many years to come.
We are indebted to the following businesses, foundations, and individuals
for making the Osprey Project possible:
- The Manchester Water Works
- Daniel Geiger of Oakhill Environmental Services
- The Samuel P. Hunt Foundation
- The Bell Atlantic Foundation
- Pro Con Construction
- John Munier & Gran-Net Innovative Technologies Group
- WMUR-Channel 9
- Lightyear Cable Products
- Craig Joyce of the Joyce Sales Group
- Winemiller Communications
- The Kendon Corporation
Welcome ||
Birding Information ||
Research ||
Environment
Nature ||
Programs ||
Centers ||
Get Involved ||
Shopper ||
Index
© 1997-2003 by New Hampshire Audubon Society.
All rights reserved.
