Live Osprey Cams in North Idaho!

Did you know there are three osprey live cameras at McEuen Park in Coeur d'Alene and one camera in Sandpoint?

These cameras can be watched day or night and offer a great learning opportunity!

Take your kids to McEuen park and have them look for the bird cameras! Bring binoculars and see if you can see anything.

Sandpoint Camera (click me)

Coeur d'Alene Cameras (click me)

Questions to ask your kids while they are watching:

For Toddlers (Ages 2–4)

1. What colors do you see on the osprey? (Encourages color recognition and observation.)

2. What is the osprey doing in the nest? (Prompts noticing actions like sitting, eating, or flying.)

3. Does the nest look cozy? What is it made of? (Introduces nest materials like sticks and grass.)

4. Can you make a sound like a bird? (Fun way to mimic osprey calls and engage vocally.)

5. Where do you think the osprey goes when it flies away? (Sparks imagination about flight and travel.)

For Elementary Kids (Ages 5–10)

1. Why do you think ospreys build their nests so high up? (Encourages thinking about safety and predator protection.)

2. What do you think the osprey is eating? How does it catch its food? (Connects to their fish diet and diving behavior.)

3. How many eggs or chicks do you see in the nest? (Promotes counting and observing the life cycle.)

4. What would it be like to fly like an osprey? Where would you go? (Fosters imagination and empathy.)

5. Why do you think the osprey comes back to the same nest every year? (Introduces migration and homing instincts.)

6. What might make it hard for ospreys to live in the wild? (Opens discussion on environmental challenges like pollution or habitat loss.)

7. If you could name the osprey or its chicks, what names would you choose? (Encourages creativity and personal connection.)

8. How do the osprey parents take care of their babies? (Highlights family dynamics and caregiving.)

Here are some fun activities you can do related to the osprey cameras:

For Toddlers (Ages 2–4)

1. Build a Mini Nest

   • Objective: Mimic osprey nest-building to explore textures and shapes.

   • Materials: Twigs, yarn, grass, paper strips, or playdough.

   • Activity: Show kids the osprey nest on the cam. Ask, “What’s the nest made of?” Have them collect or use provided materials to create a small “nest” on a plate or tray. Add toy birds or cotton balls as “eggs.”

   • Connection: Reinforces the question about nest materials and encourages tactile exploration.

   • Tip: Keep it simple; let toddlers pile materials freely and talk about what makes a cozy nest.

2. Osprey Color Hunt

   • Objective: Practice color recognition inspired by osprey feathers.

   • Materials: Crayons, paper, or household objects.

   • Activity: Point out the osprey’s colors (brown, white, black). Ask, “What colors do you see on the osprey?” Have kids find objects in the room or draw pictures using those colors.

   • Connection: Ties to the color question and builds observation skills.

   • Tip: Turn it into a scavenger hunt for active toddlers.

3. Flapping Wings Game

   • Objective: Imitate osprey flight to encourage movement.

   • Materials: None (optional: scarves or streamers).

   • Activity: Ask, “Can you make a sound like a bird?” or “What’s the osprey doing?” Show the osprey flying on the cam, then have kids flap their arms like wings or run in a circle pretending to soar. Make bird calls together.

   • Connection: Engages the sound and action questions, promoting physical activity.

   • Tip: Play in short bursts to match toddler energy levels.

   
   

   

   
   

For Elementary Kids (Ages 5–10)

1. Osprey Observation Journal

   • Objective: Develop scientific observation skills by recording osprey behaviors.

   • Materials: Notebook, pencils, crayons, or a printable template.

   • Activity: Watch the osprey cam for 5–10 minutes. Ask, “What is the osprey doing in the nest?” or “How many eggs or chicks do you see?” Have kids draw or write what they see (e.g., “The osprey brought a fish” or “Two chicks are sleeping”). Over a few days, note changes like egg hatching or chicks growing.

   • Connection: Ties to questions about actions, counting, and caregiving, fostering inquiry.

   • Tip: For younger kids, provide sentence starters like “I saw the osprey…” or let them dictate to an adult.

2. Make an Osprey Nest Model

   • Objective: Explore engineering and ecology by building a sturdy nest.

   • Materials: Sticks, straw, yarn, glue, paper plate, or small basket; optional toy birds/eggs.

   • Activity: Discuss, “Why do ospreys build nests high up?” Show the nest on the cam, then have kids construct a model nest, weaving materials to make it strong. Test it by placing toy eggs or small objects inside. Talk about why osp - Connection: Connects to the nest height and materials questions, blending art and science.

   • Tip: Discuss how ospreys reuse nests yearly to introduce recycling concepts.

3. Osprey Story or Comic Strip

   • Objective: Spark creativity by imagining an osprey’s adventures.

   • Materials: Paper, crayons, markers.

   • Activity: Ask, “What would it be like to fly like an osprey?” or “If you could name the osprey, what would you choose?” Have kids draw a comic strip or write a short story about an osprey’s day, including where it flies or how it cares for its chicks.

   • Connection: Builds on imagination and naming questions, encouraging narrative skills.

   • Tip: Display their work to build confidence, or act out the story as a group.

4. Fish-Catching Game

   • Objective: Simulate osprey hunting to learn about their diet.

   • Materials: Blue blanket or paper (water), paper fish with paperclips, magnet on a stick (fishing rod).

   • Activity: Ask, “What do ospreys eat?” Explain they dive for fish. Spread paper fish on the “water.” Kids use the magnet rod to “catch” fish, mimicking an osprey’s dive. Count how many they catch in a minute.

   • Connection: Reinforces the food question and teaches about osprey hunting skills.

   • Tip: For younger kids, skip the magnet and let them grab fish by hand.

5. Migration Map Activity

   • Objective: Learn about osprey migration and geography.

   • Materials: World map (printed or drawn), crayons, stickers.

   • Activity: Discuss, “Where does the osprey go when it flies away?” Show how ospreys migrate to South America or Africa in winter. Have kids mark a starting point (e.g., your location) and draw a path to a winter destination. Add stickers for nesting and wintering spots.

   • Connection: Ties to the migration question, introducing basic geography.

   • Tip: Use a globe for a 3D effect or watch a cam from a different region to compare.