The Osprey
The Osprey
Description
The Osprey is a large bird of prey reaching up to 2 feet in length with a wingspan of nearly 6 feet. Its back and wings are dark-brown to black making its white head and chest that much more prominent. The chest may be streaked with brown but the belly is always white. It has a dark strip running from its eyes to the back of its head that is often referred to as an eye patch. The Osprey's tail is short and blunt and its wings distinctive. They are long and narrow with finger-like feathers. There are 4 long ones with one distinctly shorter.The male and female are similar in appearance with the female being slightly larger. She also wears a spotted "necklace" around her neck. Both have a black beak, white legs, and black talons.
Juveniles can be identified by the buff colored fringe on the plumage covering their back, streaked feathers on their head, and buff colored belly.
Range and Habitat
The Osprey can be found throughout the world near bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, streams. It will also take up residence along the seashore and in the marsh. It will nest along any body of water as long as there is an adequate food supply. Empty the Nest.
If fledglings are reluctant to leave the nest, the parents will hold back food. Left with the choice of fending for themselves or starving, most take flight and leave.
Mating and Nesting
The Osprey will build its nest along freshwater lakes, the brachish water along the coast, or in rocky outcroppings offshore. They are made of sticks and twigs similar to that of the eagle. The nest is built on top of powerline poles, bridges, buoys, elevated platforms or along a cliff edge. The nest sites may be in colonies or isolated.The female lays 2 to 4 eggs that are incubated for 35 to 40 days. The chicks can hatch up to 5 days apart. When food is scarce, the older sibling will dominate the food leaving the younger ones to starve. The young fledge (fly) at 7 to 8 weeks and are dependant on their parents until the fall migration. They become sexually mature around 3 years of age.
The Osprey usually mate for life and will refurbish the same nest year after year. If nesting sites are hard to come by, the younger Osprey will not mate and breed for another couple of years.
Home Sweet Home
Diet
The Osprey is a carnivore feeding exclusively on fish. It will hover above the water until is spots its prey. It will plunge into the water feet first going depths of up to 3 feet. It will surface with the fish clutched in its talons.With its talons rounded rather than grooved and the outer toe reversible, it grasps its prey with 2 toes in front and 2 behind. It is the only bird of prey able to do this. Consequently it is in a family of its own, Pandionidae.
Plug your nose!
We're going under.
The Osprey can "plug its nose" to keep the water out when diving.
Flight and Migration
When in flight the Osprey's wings are arched with the tips drooping giving it a gull-like appearance. They migrate to warmer climes in the winter, settling in Africa, South America, and the southernmost part of the United States. 
A Beautiful Sight
Conservation Status
The number of Osprey declined between 1950 and 1970 due to pesticide poisoning and eggshell thinning. After DDT was banned, the numbers increased. They are still listed as endangered or threatened in some states, but efforts to provide nesting sites has made a difference. Selecting a Pair of Bird Watching Binoculars
-
Selecting a Pair of Bird Watching Binoculars
-
When I look out my window and watch the birds flutter around the birdfeeder, I really don't need a pair of binoculars or a scope to enjoy the sight. I frequently stop by the window and watch the birds for a minute or two between household tasks. (Occ...
Some of My Favorite Birds of Prey
Raptor Almanac
The Raptor Almanac: A Comprehensive Guide to Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, and Vultures
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
Amazon.com Review
Few people, writes Scott Weidensaul, are apathetic toward raptors. Once you've seen a hawk or a falcon or an eagle in action, you're likely to take an interest in how these great birds of prey make their homes in the world. The Weidensaul's encyclopedic guidebook to the world's principal raptor species, well illustrated with photographs, maps, and charts and full of detailed information, is an ideal companion.
Have you seen any interesting birds lately?
sittonbull wrote...
Another great one... I love to watch these birds of prey and they nest here at my daughter's on an island at Lake Wylie. 5* favored.
Posted February 06, 2009
sittonbull wrote...
Another great one... I love to watch these birds of prey and they nest here at my daughter's on an island at Lake Wylie. 5* favored.
Posted February 06, 2009
AndyPo wrote...
Excellent. These are wonderful birds. They are making a bit of a come-back in the U.K. although mostly in Scotland, I think, so I haven't seen any yet, but I would love to see them fishing.
Posted February 01, 2009
Tipi wrote...
The Osprey is a magnificent bird! I really did enjoy the photos. I know I've seen some of this creatures in the wild around Kabetogama. We have a Falcon family that lives in Fargo. They even have their own web cam, I'm told, never have checked it out, yet... That might be good to add to a Fargo lens! :) - Gee, I'm getting good ideas visiting with you!
Posted January 29, 2009
About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen, aka Lizzy Jean, has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,692 lenses, favorited 454, and has created 165 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
100 Animals to See Before They Die
by Nick Garbutt
100 Animals to See Before They Die (Bradt Guides)
Amazon Price: $18.24 (as of 07/06/2009)
Marking a new departure for Bradt, this full color, large format title builds on the brand's reputation for ethical travel and conservation, presenting a compendium of 100 of the world's most endangered mammals.
This is a must-have title for anyone with any interest in the welfare of our planet and the protection of some of its most endangered species.
Resources used to construct this page
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
Poole, A. F., R. O. Bierregaard, and M. S. Martell. 2002. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). In The Birds of North America. (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
Carolina Raptor Center
Osprey, Western North Carolina Nature Center
Osprey, All About Birds, Cornell Ornithology Laboratory
Osprey, The Raptor Center, University of Minnesota
by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
(more) 
