Smith Mountain Lake State Park has set up an Osprey Cam near the lake. The Osprey couple have been seen back in the nest. This new wide angle will give you a better opportunity to view the osprey and the surrounding area. Enjoy!
Article Comments
We have been seeing the exact same bit of film for the last 3 days. Has something happened to the ospreys?
- Debra Putman, 05/15/2012
No the ospreys are fine but we are having a video feed issue that is stumping all of our technical experts. We are working as fast as possible to restore the feed. Our apologies!
- Nancy Heltman, 05/16/2012
We actually do not know. Our only access to see in the nest is the camera feed which is not working. We are expecting a part Tuesday that hopefully will solve the problem.
- Nancy Heltman, 05/21/2012
I don't see any eggs in the nest. Is this old footage of the nest? It does not appear to be live.
- Sheila Clause, 05/29/2012
Nancy,is this a different nest than we were watching before? If not, what happened to the baby osprey?
- Sheila Clause, 06/02/2012
The feed is new. Unfortunately when Brian went up in the bucket to make the last repair he discovered the eggs and any hatchlings were gone. We suspect a predator like an eagle or owl got them when the nest was left unattended. It is possible they will lay another clutch.
- Nancy Heltman, 06/03/2012
Loved our visit to Smith Mt last year but just spent the weekend at Pocahontas for the first time in a camper. GREAT Place, very friedly staff. Went to the Hotel California concert Sat night. Visited the CCC Museum - a hiden treasure of history - Lois the staff member when its open is a grand lady who lived through the times and is a wealth of info. Recommend this to anyone, but leave us a campsite.
- Ken Kilgore, 08/06/2012
Thanks Ken! I am sorry I missed the concert myself but I commute 70 miles each way to Richmond and it is hard to motivate myself for an extra trip! Lois is a gem. I hope she shared some of her unique Pocahontas personal history with you. I will pass the great comments along to the park.
- Nancy Heltman, 08/07/2012
Is this still a live feed? It is now March 2013, what is the current status of Ospreys coming to this nest? I think I briefly saw 2 birds come to the nest, one with a fish in its talons and then they left quickly.
- Rayelle Williamson, 03/17/2013
Yes, the feed is up again. Both birds have spent time in the nest and are definitely doing nesting activities. The park is in a rural area and subject to the whims of not very good internet. We are working on a new solution but we find that we often lose the internet connection which will take the nest off line. Because we have no dedicated staff to monitor the connection and are so short staffed that even if we get a report can't necessarily send someone to fix the problem, we may have periods of time when the system will be off line. In fact, I just noticed it was off line as I right this. If we intentionally take it down to work on it, we will post in the chat but you won't see any warning if the signal just gets disconnected. Hopefully our new internet solution will make the connection more stable.
- Nancy Heltman, 03/17/2013
Thank you Nancy for the update! I am sorry for the staffing issues. Maybe you can put out a public appeal thru a local TV station. If the public was aware then there may be an interested qualified person that could offer their skills and help take on this project.
- Rayelle Williamson, 03/18/2013
I am new to this nest cam. Where can I find more info on this cam? I would like to know more about the nest and the Osprey. I saw my first Osprey last fall, the first while I was looking for another bird. The second I spotted from my backyard landing in a tree. I got some great shots of this one. Any way any info would be appreciated. Thank you
- Chris Connors, 03/19/2013
Here is some background on the camera: http://www.virginiaoutdoors.com/article/more/3655. If you have any more questions please write me at nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.
- Nancy Heltman, 03/21/2013
We have a HUGE PROBLEM! A fisherman's net has been brought into the Osprey nest. It needs to be removed!
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/150494_238106499666020_737558566_n.jpg
- Lin Lawson, 03/30/2013
Someone please Help get the fishing net off the osprey nest........could cause one of the ospreys to get hung!!!!!!!!
- Trudi Kron, 03/30/2013
The fishing net on the Osprey nest is dangerous and a threat to the safety of these beautiful raptors. I hope you can remove it as soon as possible. Thank you.
- Gaye Kelly, 03/30/2013
We appreciate your concern but getting to the nest required a bucket truck and we do not have one. Additionally we are observing nature, not interfering with it. This is a sensitive time for mating and egg laying and interference is a bad idea. It looks like they have nearly kicked it out of the best at this point as well. It is a good example of how careless fishermen can cause significant issues with wildlife.
- Nancy Heltman, 03/30/2013
We appreciate your concern but getting to the nest required a bucket truck and we do not have one. Additionally we are observing nature, not interfering with it. This is a sensitive time for mating and egg laying and interference is a bad idea. It looks like they have nearly kicked it out of the best at this point as well. It is a good example of how careless fishermen can cause significant issues with wildlife.
- Nancy Heltman, 03/30/2013
I was viewing the cam today around noon... and did witness one of the Osprey getting caught in the netting luckily it got untangled in time before it flew off the nest..next time it may not be so lucky.
I have screen shots of this happening ..
For those of you seeing this post it is Very important for all of us to take the responsibility to try to made someone at the nest website know that things such as netting can and does make it very dangerous for raptors in so many ways.
Please Help us watch for these dangers and report them a.s.a.p.
Thank you
To who it my concern on this web site please do take this as a serious problem
Thank you
Rep. of the group "Osprey friends" on FB
- Trudi Kron, 03/30/2013
I'm new to this web cam. Is there any way we can get sound on the feed? Thanks.
- Rhiannon James, 04/02/2013
Sorry, no sound. We didn't add a mic because the nest is high up and with the wind we were not convinced it would add any value. It would also add an additional technology challenge.
- Nancy Heltman, 04/02/2013
I do appreciate your concern and info. I am trying to get some help for you to get rid of the mesh and to add info about this problem for you. I wish you and this site the best and will continue to watch it when I can.
- Diana McCoy, 04/03/2013
Nancy Heltman
We at Osprey Friends group are still very concerned about the danger of the fish netting that is still on the Osprey nest.
Can you contact the ones that put up the nest platform they should have the ability to get a cherry picker truck or would know of someone that does have one. What about the fire dept? This park is a Government owned park correct? I sure wish that someone finds help to help there Osprey in time BEFORE THEY LAY EGGS.
Thank you
Trudi
Osprey Friends group
- Trudi Kron, 04/04/2013
Nancy, I am sorry it's necessary for you to rent the cherry picker. Isn't there some organization in your area that could help out? I hate that you have to add that expense. Any how we really appreciate your willingness to address the problem. I am also with Osprey Friends on Facebook, am an administrator, and want to thank you.
- Diana McCoy, 04/04/2013
PLEASE LOOK, the female Osprey has netting wrapped around her left talon. This is so sad to see. She now has an egg but the outlook is not looking positive. The rest of that netting needs to be REMOVED. Lin Lawson, admin. of Osprey Friends Group.
- Lin Lawson, 04/05/2013
The mesh needs to be removed immediately or the nest may wind up being abandoned. Please do something right away.
Diana McCoy, Administrator of Osprey Friends
- Diana McCoy, 04/05/2013
Nancy, Ranger Lauri has joined our group and given us more detail about your efforts. We do appreciate them and it even looks as if the situation isn't as dire as we feared. If we have been too alarmist please forgive that because we firmly believe that it would be far worse to be apathetic in such a case. We have seen the results at other cams, when fishing line as snagged and killed some ospreys. So thanks again for your communications and efforts to help.
Regards,
Diana McCoy, an Administrator for Osprey Friends Group
- Diana McCoy, 04/05/2013
Nancy I see the very bad problem with the netting has not been removed from the Osprey nest. What steps have been taken to do so. It is very dangerous now but you know it is going to be tragic when the young hatch and every one has to Witness them being all tangled up in the nets.It is very sad that this matter has already taken this long to be resolved. .......
- Trudi Kron, 04/08/2013
Staff on site walked to the nest site and we were prepared to rent a bucket truck if necessary. However, after seeing the situation we do not believe it is necessary. The fabric is frayed and all tangled up in the side of the nest. Disturbing everything to get it out is not worth the risk.
- Nancy Heltman, 04/09/2013
I am curious-Can anyone tell what is in the nest to the left of the osprey? Opposite side of nest from netting.
- Rayelle Williamson, 04/16/2013
I can't really see what it is. The ospreys have been bringing some creative things into the nest.
- Nancy Heltman, 04/17/2013
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