General News
14 July, 2026
Osprey chicks high as a kite
TWO osprey chicks have hatched on the James Cook University’s Daintree Rainforest Observatory (DRO) canopy crane.
DRO manager Johan Larson said the first of the two chicks appeared overnight between 25 and 26 June and the second between 26 and 27 June.
“Both chicks appear to be doing well despite the cold, wet and windy weather we’ve been having. The parents have been feeding them regularly with fish, which is great to see on the live cam,” he said.
The osprey nest is on the tip of JCU’s 47m-high canopy crane.
“Ospreys like to nest in really high exposed locations and, over 15 years ago, they realised that the canopy crane is a great structure to nest on,” Mr Larsen said.
He said ospreys liked to nest within flying distance of water because they predominately feed on fresh fish.
“Ospreys can live up to 25 years and we think this is the same breeding pair, they produce two or three eggs every year,” Mr Larsden said.
“Over 15 years ago, they realised that the canopy crane is a great structure to nest on.”
Mr Larson observed that the ospreys tended to nest in the earlier part of the year, and then towards the end of the year after the chicks have fledged, they stop maintaining the nest. “The adults still hang around the crane, we see them year around, but they don't use the nest then,” he said.
The crane is the centrepiece of JCU’s DRO field station in the Daintree.
