Osprey, Pandion haliatus ( Pandionidae, or Genus name, for Pandion, who in Greek legend was the King of Athens; haliaetus or species name is Latin for sea eagle).
DESCRIPTION: The Osprey is a large bird of prey, about 24 inches in length (53-61 cm). Its head is mostly white, but it has a broad black cheek patch. While looking at it soaring above, it looks like a large gull, with bent or "angled" wings. However it has broad white shoulder patches and below its angled wings you can see black wrist patches. Its tail is fairly long, with narrow stripes or bars. The Osprey often hovers on beating wings and plunges feet-first for fish.
FOOD: It is the only raptor that plunges into the water to catch fish, its major source of food. It may strike the water with tremendous force, sometimes disappearing below the surface with only wing tips showing. It will rise from the water with fish gripped in both feet, pausing in midair to shake water from its feathers, and arranging the fish with its head pointed forward, which reduces its resistance to air. It will then fly with the fish to its perch to eat or to its nest to feed its young. If a bald eagle soaring above sees the osprey make its catch, the eagle dives upon the osprey and forces it to drop the fish. The eagle will then catch the fish in its talons before the fish hits the water. When fish are less available, Osprey have been known to eat mice, small birds, snakes and frogs.
NESTING: The male and female build their nest in a tree, or on a platform made specially by people for this bird, standing next to or near a pond, lake, river or bay. The nests, which are repaired each year by the pair, are built of sticks, seaweed, bones, driftwood, cornstalks or whatever the birds can find. The nest has been known to weigh up to half a ton. Adults snap dead branches off trees with their feet while in flight and carry the branches to the nest.
EGGS: The eggs are considered quite beautiful and are white to pink or cinnamon, heavily blotched and spotted with dark browns. Usually three eggs are laid.
INCUBATION: The incubation begins with the first egg laid and is usually by the female. During this time the female never leaves the nest and depends on her mate to feed her. She sits on the eggs for a little over a month (31-33 days).
AGE:Ospreys have been known to live in the wild for 21 years.
RANGE: Ospreys live on every continent except Antarctica.
After looking at the picture and reading about the Osprey, can you think of something new you just learned about this amazing bird?
Why does the Osprey, as it is flying, rearrange the fish it has just caught in its talons, with the fish's head pointing forward?
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