Webcam Captures Birth Of Three Baby Ospreys On Long Island

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- It was perhaps the most anticipated birth on Long Island. A live webcam has been focused on an osprey's nest on the North Fork where three baby hawks have been born.

As CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported, people from all over the world have been watching the nest built high above a 50 foot radio tower.

The baby ospreys popped from their eggs after being carefully nursed by their proud parents for the last month.

"Ya know a lot of people are telling us it's the best reality show ever," Paul Henry said.

Henry created the live webcam, ospreyzone.com, which has been fascinating viewers far and wide.

"Over 100 countries are logged on right now. At any one time we've got 500 to 1,000 viewers. We're getting tens of thousands of hits each day," he said.

The webcam is fed by a camera above a nest perched atop a 50 foot tower in Greenport created by property owner Tommy Aprea.

"Every morning I'd come out, there would be ospreys there screeching when I took the garbage out," Aprea said.

Aprea's neighbors have been fascinated watching the way the baby osprey's father is constantly flying in and out with food for the newborns and twigs for their nest.

"I didn't realize the daddy would circle around and protect them, so I'm going to watch more carefully in person," Joann Brancato said.

Henry's long time friend Tom Megale said, as a father of four he can relate.

"The male went out and got a fish, brought it up to feed the babies, just doing what he's supposed to do to make sure his family is okay," he said.

The webcam has generated so much interest that Henry said he's going to put a documentary together.

"We're planning on putting it all together simulating the four months from the egg to flying south," he said.

Henry said he barely gets sleep anymore watching over his social media sensation. He even fretted about one of the baby chicks getting tangled in some netting that the father had brought into their nest, only to breath a sigh of relief when the chick safely emerged.

Henry said they have started an online contest to name the chicks. The parents are named George and Gracie after the 1950s George Burns and Gracie Allen show.