Watch the osprey nesting on the edge of Great Bay! Osprey generally return to the area late March or early April, lay eggs soon after, and raise their young throughout the summer until they begin to migrate in late August. If you are visiting the Great Bay Discovery Center, from the outer loop of the boardwalk, look to the right and you will see the nest and camera mounted above it. In 2026 the female returned on April 6th and the male returned on April 7th.
June 2026 Update:
On 6/22/26: Many of you may have noticed that one of the young osprey on the Great Bay Osprey Cam has died. Things shifted very quickly in the previous few days, as it seemed like the male was having a harder time finding fish. We share in the sadness that comes with witnessing this loss. While we may never know exactly why it happened, survival in the wild is influenced by many factors—from weather, wind, and food availability, to sibling competition, environmental conditions, and other factors beyond our view. One of the unique aspects of a live wildlife camera is that it gives us an unfiltered look at nature as it unfolds. While these moments can be heartbreaking, they are also a reminder that life in the natural world is both beautiful and challenging, and that nature often follows its own course.
On 6/24/26: We were made aware that an Osprey chick fell out of the nest. An individual retrieved it, and it is on its way to a rehabber. We will keep viewers posted if we are able to.
6/26/26: See this post from Center for Wildlife.
Would you like to be a citizen scientist and contribute to our Osprey data?
Join the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR) in monitoring osprey prey delivery with our 24/7 Osprey Cam! Instructions and data entry forms can be found on the GBNERR Osprey Cam Prey Research- Google Form. Information about the species of fish and the number of fish the ospreys bring to the nest will help us study the seasonal diet of the young and overall success of the nest. By working with citizen scientists (that’s you!), we can collect much more data than what our staff alone can record.
Our camera streams 24/7 (no night vision), so you won’t miss any of the action as these incredible birds return to lay, hatch, and rear their young. Enjoy!
Read about the adventures from last season at 2025 Osprey Adventures – The Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR)
The Great Bay Discovery Center adheres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Eagle Cam Guidance for Use of Cameras at Bald Eagle Nests (2013), and we apply those same respectful standards to our Osprey Cam. In keeping with this guidance, no permit is issued for interfering with the natural behaviors of nesting birds—so we do not intervene on the osprey nest. Nature can be both beautiful and unpredictable. Not all osprey chicks or adults survive, and witnessing those realities can be difficult. If you find the viewing experience to be emotionally challenging, we encourage you to take a break. Thank you for your understanding and for supporting wildlife observation with compassion.
