Caught On Camera: Osprey Chicks Cute As Heck In Boulder Co. Nest

BOULDER, CO -- Wildlife lovers in Boulder are glued to their computers as the two Boulder area-Osprey Cams have started to document the hatching of babies this week. Boulder has two live cameras that record from the fish-eating eagles' nests at Boulder Reservoir and on a light pole at the Boulder County Fairgrounds.

The birds first returned to both nesting sites in March, when some bird hanky-panky was captured on video.

A second chick was born Wednesday morning at the Boulder County nest, and watchers were excitedly posting on the comments. Eggs have been seen in the Boulder Reservoir nest, but no babies yet.

"Dad delivered a whole fish to mom at 14:33 which she readily took," one fan reported.

Osprey Cam watchers may notice scraps of plastic bags that have been flown up to the nests. "Dad likes to decorate," explains one fan. In April, while both birds were away, and before eggs appeared, a cleaning crew removed plastic and garbage from the Boulder Reservoir nest.

"No one knows why they collect all the different things that they do for their nest (including trash), other than to make the lining soft and to keep eggs from falling into voids in the stick nest," the Boulder County website explains.

Both nest cameras run on solar-powered batteries.

Ospreys are fish-eating birds of prey that nest near bodies of water. They grow to 2 feet long, with a wingspan of up to 70 inches. Every year, the male and female birds migrate, sometimes as far as South America.

"The male and female migrate and winter separately but return to the same nesting site each year," the site says. "Offspring usually remain at their wintering grounds for their entire first year before beginning a migration and nesting pattern."

Osprey have been observed hunting fish at the following Boulder area locations: Fairgrounds lake, Twin Peaks golf course, Lagerman Reservoir, Izaak Walton Pond, Golden Ponds, and Pella Crossing.

Watch the Boulder County Osprey Cam here:

Related: Boulder's 'Osprey Cam' Reveals Live Nest Raptor Love

Image via YouTube.