This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Longmont residents were treated to a live local webcam view of four Osprey chicks hatching back in May this year. Sadly one of the chicks didn't survive but the other three have been thriving and over the past few weeks have all taken their first flights and fledged the nest.
Thousands of viewers have been tuning into the live webcam at a nest next to the Boulder County Fairground from across the world to watch the Longmont Osprey as they changed from small featherless bundles into majestic raptors. The webcam was set up by Boulder County five years ago and has been a great success giving everyone a front row seat for one of natures spectacles.
The three chicks grew quickly thanks to a constant supply of fresh fish caught by Dad. July 15th saw one of the chicks take their first flight from the nest after weeks of test their wings, hopping around in the nest and catching the breeze. The two other chicks were quick to follow both making their first flights the next day.
The chicks will stay around the nest, building up their flying skills for around 30 days after fledging with Dad still catching fish for them. They will then head on their first migration to Central and South America for the winter, with migration routes following broad swaths of the eastern, interior, and western U.S. A few Ospreys overwinter in the southernmost United States, including parts of Florida and California. You still have a few more weeks to view the fledglings on the nest camera, although they are often out putting their wings to the test in the day so the evening is a good time to check in if you want to see some of Colorados most beautiful raptors.
