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Home » Osmp » Live Boulder Osprey Cam

Live Boulder Osprey Cam

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Attention:

Camera maintenance is ongoing in preparation for the 2021 nesting season. The live feed may be periodically offline until nesting begins late March. 

Nest Updates:

In late 2020 Xcel energy started a large solar project near the osprey nest. As part of an agreement between the City of Boulder and Xcel the nesting platform and camera were moved 100 meters North of the original location and away from any possible disturbance caused by maintenance on the solar array. We insured that the new nesting platform can be seen from the original location and all nesting material was moved so we don't believe that the resident pair will have any issues finding or nesting in 2021. 

 

2020 Nesting attempt:

March 27:      Male osprey arrived at nest.
March 28:      Female osprey arrived at nest. Non-resident male osprey seen at the nest. 
May 6th:        First egg laid. 
May 8th:        ​Second egg laid. 
May 14th:       Third egg laid. 
June 16th:     Egg 1 and 2 hatched. 
June 17th-23rd:   Egg 3 Hatched 
August 17th:   All 3 nestlings fledged. 
 

2019 Nesting attempt:

March 27:    Female osprey arrived at nest.
March 28:    Male osprey arrived at nest.
April 19:       First egg laid. 
May 26:        Nest failed. Egg appeared to be non viable.
 

2018 Nesting attempt:

March 23:  Nonresident female osprey seen at nest.
March 25:  Male osprey arrived at nest.
March 28:  Female osprey arrived at nest.
April 19:  Egg No. 1 laid. 
May 31:  Chick hatched.
July 25:  Chick fledged 
 

Viewing Tips:

The camera is solar powered and completely “off the grid”. Prolonged periods of inclement weather may cause temporary outages. If an outage occurs, please be patient and we will restore the live stream as quickly as possible. 

Background Information:

This video system was initially set up by Parks and Recreation staff at the Boulder reservoir for monitoring osprey. However, for the past several years Canada Geese have successfully defended that nest from osprey. In spring 2016, OSMP partnered with Parks and Recreation to upgrade some of the camera components and move the system to a more dependable Osprey nest near Valmont Reservoir. In 2017 OSMP staff installed a new HD camera for a clearer picture. With the help of other city departments, including Information Technology and Utilities, we now have the camera streaming live! 

OSMP wildlife staff have been monitoring the Osprey nest since 2011. Since then the nest has been successful every year, fledging a total of 14 young! 

When viewing the osprey, the male and female can be identified by their different markings. The female osprey has a “bib” of dark feathers on her chest, whereas the male has an almost completely white chest.

Timeline:

Monitoring of this osprey nest in past years has indicated:

  • March 20 - April 10: Adult osprey return to the nest
  • April 21 - May 9: Eggs laid and incubation begins
  • June 9 - June 24: Eggs hatch
    • Osprey eggs hatch in 36-42 days after being laid
  • Aug. 5 - Aug. 23: Young fledge
    • Fledging occurs 50-55 days after hatching 

Video Highlights:

Highlights from 2018 season.

Highlights from 2017 season.