Rachel and Tweeters,

In the Nicola Valley near Merritt in south-central B.C., where I do
much of my birding, there are at least 15 nesting pairs of Ospreys,
most of which use telephone poles or artificial nesting platforms
which have been put up for them over the years. I have been keeping
track of the success of Osprey nests for several years. In any given
year, at least one-third of the nests are used by Canada Geese, which
take over the nests and lay eggs in late March or very early April
before the Ospreys get back (which is usually about April 10).

Ospreys definitely seem unhappy to find Canada Geese nesting in their
old nests when they get back (but who is going to put a pair of geese
off their nest?). However, as soon as the eggs hatch, the goslings
leap off the nest to the ground, and the nest is once again available
for the Ospreys. Each year, I have seen a few nests that have
apparently produced successful broods of Canada Geese and Ospreys in
the same year.

On the other hand, some pairs of Ospreys seem too impatient to wait
for the geese, and begin to build another nest nearby. (There is no
shortage of suitable nest sites.) Although the Ospreys that do wait
for the geese might seem to be at a disadvantage, because their own
breeding cycle is delayed a bit, the Osprey numbers in the valley are
steadily increasing. (I knew of only 2 breeding pairs in 1980). On the
other hand, we really don't need more Canada Geese than we already
have!

Wayne C. Weber
Kamloops, BC
contopus at shaw.ca


----- Original Message -----
From: Rachel Lawson <RachelLawson at softhome.net>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 10:03 AM
Subject: Geese in Osprey nests


I was in western Montana this weekend, and saw three Osprey nests.
One had an Osprey on it, but the other two were occupied by Canada
Geese. So, I am wondering, are the geese actually trying to nest up
there? Do the geese drive away the returning Ospreys, or do they get
chased off? If they do hatch out young, do the goslings fling
themselves out of the nest like Wood Duck ducklings?

Rachel Lawson
Seattle
RachelLawson at softhome.net