Name the Alcoa Osprey Chicks at Badin Lake

Alcoa launched an online contest on today that allows fans of its OspreyCam to choose names for three osprey chicks hatched two weeks ago. The online contest features several names submitted by students at Badin Elementary School.

The Alcoa OspreyCam, a live webcam that follows a pair of osprey at Badin Lake, spotted the eggs in late March and watched until they hatched in late April. Since then, viewers have watched the parents bring fish to the nest and lovingly feed the chicks.

Now it’s time to give the chicks a proper name.

Students at Badin Elementary submitted ideas for the online poll. Some of the suggested names (Ollie, Olive, and Oscar Jr.) are tied to their parents — named Oliver and Oliveea by Alcoa employees at  the dam — while others reflect the traditional role of osprey (Hunter, Fisher) or the attitude these chicks embody (Spirit, Grace).

“The students had a lot of fun suggesting names for the birds. We got some terrific suggestions and are excited about seeing which names are chosen,” said Mark Gross,technical manager for Alcoa Power Generating Inc.

To vote for your favorite set of names, go to www.alcoa.com/ospreycam.

Alcoa OspreyCam: Three baby chicks have arrived

The Alcoa OspreyCam, a live webcam that follows a pair of osprey at Badin Lake, has captured the hatching of three baby chicks. Over the next two months, viewers can watch the parents feed and care for the chicks as they grow and prepare to take flight.

Osprey chicks usually fledge — or leave the nest for their first flight — in late June or early July. The chicks can be seen making practice flights across the nest as they get ready to take flight.

“It’s a great way to see the wonder of nature, right here in our own backyard,” said Mark Gross, technical manager for Alcoa Power Generating Inc. “It’s fascinating to watch these little chicks grow and take flights.”

The OspreyCam can be viewed at www.alcoa.com/ospreycam. Visitors can follow updates through the website and join in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #AlcoaOspreyCam.

Naming Contest

Alcoa will launch an online contest on later this week to select names for the trio of Osprey chicks. Students from Badin Elementary School suggested names that will be used in the online vote.

“The students had a lot of fun suggesting names for the birds. We got some terrific suggestions and are excited about seeing which names are chosen,” Gross said.

About the OspreyCam

Alcoa launched the OspreyCam in May 2012 to follow two osprey — named Oliveea and Oscar by Alcoa employees — who return every year to a nest situated atop the Narrows Dam. The OspreyCam has received more than 541,000 hits from 87 countries since it was introduced.

Ospreys are large birds — with a wingspan of 5-6 feet — that resemble bald eagles. The birds live along rivers, lakes and other large bodies of water where they can feed on fish. The open water and large tracts of undeveloped shoreline at the Yadkin Project provide the perfect setting for wildlife such as bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons and great egrets. 

Alcoa’s OspreyCam Returns: Live Feed Provides Close-Up View of Ospreys at the Yadkin Project

Alcoa has brought back its popular OspreyCam, a live camera that follows a pair of osprey who make their home at Badin Lake. The OspreyCam can be viewed online at www.alcoa.com/ospreycam.

Alcoa originally launched the camera in May 2012 to follow two osprey — named Oliveea and Oscar by Alcoa employees — who return every year to a nest situated atop the Narrows Dam. Last year, viewers were able to closely watch the development of three baby chicks as they grew and prepared to take flight.

More baby chicks are on the way. 

Oliveea recently laid two eggs that should hatch in late April. Viewers will be able to watch as the chicks are hatched and will be able to take part in a contest to help name the birds.

The OspreyCam has received more than 541,000 hits from 87 countries since it was introduced.

“The response has been incredible,” said Mark Gross, technical manager for Alcoa Power Generating Inc. “We have been following these birds for several years and its exciting to share these amazing images with people around the world.”

Visitors can follow updates on the bird in a related blog on the Alcoa site and can join in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #AlcoaOspreyCam.

Ospreys are large birds — with a wingspan of 5-6 feet — that resemble bald eagles. The birds live along rivers, lakes and other large bodies of water where they can feed on fish. The open water and large tracts of undeveloped shoreline at the Yadkin Project provide the perfect setting for wildlife such as bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons and great egrets.

“We are proud that our commitment to preserving the natural habitat around the Yadkin Project has maintained an environment where bald eagles, ospreys and other wildlife can continue to thrive,” Gross said.

Alcoa also operates an EagleCam that provides a live look at two bald eagle chicks in Davenport, Iowa. The site, www.alcoa.com/eaglecam, received more than 12 million visitors last year.