It has been an uneventful week for Annie and Squam, following a typical routine that occurs when they are in full egg incubation mode. They are just about midway through incubation, and we still expect hatching around 5/30-5/31. I took this photo this morning of Annie, her head resting with eyes closed on a comfortable pillow of plastic. It has to be exhausting for her to sit hour after hour, night and day, only relieved for short periods by Squam so she can eat, preen, defecate, etc. So it is not uncommon to see Annie “resting”. I don't think it is deep sleep, but her head can often be seen down and her eyes closed. Soon enough she'll have chicks to tend to and feed, and there will be even less time for rest. Squam has his own daily mission to find food, and he has proven to be a master hunter. So when you don't see him on the side perch or the nest, chances are he is out hunting.
As for the plastic pillow, Squam and many of his male counterparts in the Osprey population are attracted to plastics for nesting material. And all kinds of other non-organic items. Sometimes it can be problematic - like large flapping pieces of plastic or items like twine and fishing line that can become entangled with chicks and/or adults. Last year there were 2 different instances where I went out to a nest and untangled some material from a chick leg or wing - one being a chick of Annie and Squam's. All ended well but in other instances, it has not. So I pay attention, especially to the webcam nest, and in certain situations will intervene and remove materials. This recent plastic brought in by Squam does not seem to present a threat, but we will monitor it. Often the male will continue to bring in some sticks and grasses and the plastics will get buried.
Around the region, it appears the total number of nesting pairs will increase from last year's total of 92 but no hard estimate yet. Some pairs are still unsettled, meaning they are either still building nests, have moved or are generally not fully committed to a nest site. Greenbelt's intrepid volunteer nest monitors are out in the field, making observations and sending in reports - about 800 already. So that is how I can keep track - without them it would be impossible. More updates soon.