Good morning and happy August. This is a just a quick comment from me that Sunny and Stormy are still around as the attached photo shows them together on the nest earlier today. But they have been off the nest since breakfast and that will be a continuing trend - for better (them) or worse (us viewers)! They are learning their way around, finding where good roosting sites are and probably starting to try some hunting.
During most of August, if you are out and about in our region, or really anywhere Osprey are breeding, you can expect to see them frequently soaring and calling, sometimes in groups, perhaps in areas you haven't regularly seen them this summer. We are in that period of time when adults and fledglings are detaching themselves from the nest, but they have not departed on their southward migration yet. They are around. The adults are resting up and recharging their fat reserves, while the fledglings are trying to learn basic survival skills and build up their strength as well. So they all will gather sometimes in groups, perhaps related to available food, perhaps just riding wind currents, which I witnessed last night before dusk, as 3-4 Osprey were circling overhead, calling, soaring - just being Osprey!
I believe Sunny and Stormy are in great physical condition and will be successful in all their future endeavors! Onward and upward.