Chicks check in to canopy crane

James Cook University’s Daintree Rainforest Observatory (DRO) has welcomed two new team members with the hatching of a couple of osprey chicks.

DRO manager, Johan Larson, said the first of the two chicks appeared overnight between the 25th and 26th of June and the second between the 26th and 27th.

“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.”

The osprey nest 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 Larson said ospreys like 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.”

The 47m-high canopy crane is the centrepiece of JCU’s DRO, a field station in lowland wet tropics rainforest in Far North Queensland that includes include a lecture theatre and indoor and outdoor laboratories.