It has been a very normal week for Annie and Squam. They continue to build another sturdy and large nest, now lining it with soft materials like grasses, which indicates to me they are preparing it for eggs. As previously mentioned, Annie's first egg was April 30 in 2025, but it has been earlier in other years. I think we are all in full egg watch mode from here on out until it happens. In 2025 they had a 3 egg clutch, but only 2 eggs hatched, which is not uncommon. I expect a 3 egg clutch again, which is the average fro most Osprey. It is rare to see 4 egg clutches but it does happen - we had a nest fledge 4 chicks last year in Newbury!
There are Osprey incubating eggs already across the region, including the pair on the Belle Isle Reservation (MADCR land) webcam in East Boston (https://www.friendsofbelleislemarsh.com/ospreycam/). My good friend Sean Riley, MADCR biologist, set up this webcam and is a huge help down in that area!
And speaking of that area, the posted photos here show a National Grid crew transferring a nest (with no eggs yet) off a utility pole and lines in Revere along a very busy stretch of road and into a specially designed dish-like nest structure. Kudos to NG for a quick response and great outcome - the Osprey were back on the nest in less than 15 minutes. This pair had nested the last 10 years on a light tower in the parking area of the old Wonderland Dog Track. The site is being redeveloped and the light tower was removed. We knew the pair would relocate, just not where to. Now we know!