How Explore.org Cam Chronicled a 14-Year-Old Female Osprey’s Fascinating Journey

August 2024

Photo: The Osprey had to shade the chicks daily during nearly 100 degree temps for almost three weeks. [Cam screen grab thanks to AnnDThorpe]

Importance of long-term research and collaboration

As most of you may know, the ORI has worked together with Explore.org to set up a camera to observe Osprey activity near Charlo, MT. This year, a new female Osprey nested under the watchful eyes of researchers and viewers alike. What made this newcomer especially intriguing was the identification band she wore—a small but powerful tool that unlocked the story of her past.

Through this band, we discovered that this Osprey, named Lola by the cam watchers, is 14 years old and was originally banded 65 miles away in Lolo, Montana, by Rob Domenech's Raptor View Research Institute (RVRI). This connection between ORI and RVRI highlights the importance of long-term research and collaboration in understanding raptor ecology.

RVRI, a non-profit research and education organization founded in 2004 by Executive Director Rob Demenech, is one of the leading raptor organizations in the West and is committed to understanding and mitigating human-caused impacts on raptors and their environments. The organization’s work draws international attention and contributes valuable insights into the lives of raptors.

The banding of this Osprey 14 years ago has proven invaluable not just for researchers, but for the global community of cam watchers who followed her journey this season. By tracking her origin story, we gain a deeper understanding of Osprey behavior, migration patterns, and survival rates over the years. This type of long-term research is of critical importance—it helps us to understand their lives, monitor changes in raptor populations, assess the impacts of environmental changes, and implement conservation strategies that protect these species for future generations. To learn more about the RVRI visit their website here: https://raptorview.org

Lola and Charlie watching their chicks hatch: photo courtesy of awolTom, a cam watcher

Triumph and Tragedy in the Osprey Nest Drama

The saga of this year’s Osprey nest took a heartbreaking turn when two of the three chicks that hatched fell from the platform and died at different times. The second chick perished only minutes after the ORI felt pressured by cam watchers to remove a wad of baling twine that was brought in by a parent Osprey, despite advice by an Osprey expert to take a more wait-and-see approach. The removal was carefully performed by a US Fish and Wildlife agent, but the one chick may have panicked shortly afterwards (while we will never know for sure), and it pushed itself off the side of the nest.

This story not only highlights the challenges faced by these birds with human intervention, but also underscores a significant and ongoing threat: baling twine. A shocking statistic, mentioned by University of Montana professor Erick Greene, estimates that 10% to 30% (in certain hard-hit areas) of Osprey chicks and some adults die from becoming entangled in or hanging from baling twine brought into the nest.

To address this issue, the ORI funded a local radio ad on KERR. The ad aimed to reach rural audiences spanning the Mission Valley, spreading awareness about the simple but crucial steps that farmers and ranchers can take to save the lives of Osprey, picking up and properly disposing of baling twine. Learn how you can help us in spreading awareness by going to our web page: https://www.owlresearchinstitute.org/osprey-and-baling-twine

Amid the challenges, one remaining chick survived and successfully fledged on August 12th. This young fledgling continues to frequent the nest platform, making short flights as it learns the vital skills of flying and fishing under the careful watch of its parents Lola and Charlie. One can watch the Osprey Cam here: https://explore.org/livecams/owl-research-institute/charlo-montana-osprey-nest