Lake Capote Recreation Area

Osprey Cam

Thanks for visiting the Lake Capote osprey webcam page! The Southern Ute Wildlife Division is excited to give the Tribe and the public an opportunity to learn more about these fascinating birds by viewing them up close. Click on the video preview below to start the webcam.

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Click here to view the leg-banding of the three osprey chicks from 2017!

Key Osprey Data

202320222021*20202019*20182017
First Detection at NestMarch 31April 1March 28March 29March 11March 8March 13
First Egg LayApril 26April 26April 28May 6May 19March 30April 2
First Egg HatchJune 3June 5June 12-May 8May 10
Approx. Incubation Time38 days38 days37 days-39 days38 days
Leg-BandingJuly 15--June 28June 19
Blue Band Numbers16C--13C, 14C, 15C10C, 11C, 12C
First Fledgling from NestAugust 1August 5-July 4July 4
Number of Eggs/Chicks Lost320300
Number of Chicks Fledged012033
*In 2022, three eggs were laid and all three hatched, as expected. However, all three chicks died or were depredated – likely by an avian predator – shortly after each hatch.

*In 2021, three eggs were laid in April/May, and one egg failed to hatch. Also, one of the two chicks was mal-nourished and died from handling stress during leg-banding on July 15. Ultimately, only one osprey was produced for 2021. The passing of one of the chicks was sad and unfortunate, and the Wildlife Division is re-evaluating its approach with leg-banding in the future.

*In 2019, a nesting attempt began in early April, and a single egg was laid. However, due to a fatal injury to the female, this nesting effort failed. A new osprey pair took over the nest shortly thereafter, and two eggs were laid. Incubation/hatching failed. As a result, no osprey were produced for 2019.

The Lake Capote Osprey Nest

Osprey Nest and Camera

For the past ten years, a pair of ospreys has made its seasonal home at the Southern Ute Tribe’s Lake Capote, and given visitors spectacular displays of nesting, fishing, and fledgling young. Beginning in 2017, viewers should get a much more close-up view of the birds’ activities, via a webcam installed at their nest.

The birds have arrived in March of each year, after migrating from their winter homes in Central America or South America. Over the course of the spring and summer, the ospreys work on nest construction, lay eggs, raise young, and of course catch a lot of fish. Learn more about ospreys at All About Birds Osprey Page.

Naming the Ospreys

The Southern Ute Wildlife Division sponsored a naming contest for the pair of adult ospreys that can be seen on the Lake Capote webcam. Wildlife Division staff chose Suuwhsiagyetu or “Strong Wings” for the male, and Suupu’ighyetu or “Powerful Eyes” for the female. Read about the Osprey naming contest on the Southern Ute Drum.

Identifying the Male vs. Female

Osprey Male vs Female

The Webcam

Division staff installed an AXIS P-5515-E network camera in February 2017. A mounting system was attached to the nest pole, which includes a lightning rod to divert any strikes away from the camera and the nest. An aerial lift was used to safely reach the top of the pole.

The division worked with View Into The Blue, a Boulder-based company specializing in outdoor webcams, to design the webcam and livestreaming system. The high-definition 1080p camera has pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities – allowing it to capture not just what’s happening on the nest, but also video of the lake or Chimney Rock for example. The camera data is transmitted wirelessly from the webcam to a communications tower near the campground.

Acknowledgements

The Southern Ute Wildlife Division would like to thank the following for their assistance and support of this project: