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More About Ospreys ...
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The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a medium large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. It is sometimes known by the misnomers Fish Hawk, Sea Hawk or Fish Eagle.
It has white underparts and long, narrow wings with four "fingers", which give it a very distinctive appearance.
The Osprey is particularly well adapted to its diet, with reversible outer toes, closable nostrils to keep out water during dives, and backwards facing scales on the talons which act as barbs to help catch fish.
It locates its prey from the air, often hovering prior to plunging feet-first into the water to seize a fish. As it rises back into flight the fish is turned head forward to reduce drag. The feet are such effective tools for grasping fish that, on occasion, Ospreys have drowned because they were unable to release their grip on a fish that was heavier than expected.
It breeds by freshwater lakes, and sometimes on coastal brackish waters. The nest is a large heap of sticks built in trees, rocky outcrops, telephone poles or artificial platforms. In some regions with high Osprey densities, such as Chesapeake Bay, USA, most Ospreys do not start breeding until they are five to seven years old. Many of the structures they need to build nests on are already taken. If there are no nesting sites available, young Ospreys may be forced to delay breeding.
Ospreys usually mate for life. In March or earlier depending on region, they begin a five-month period of partnership to raise their young. Females lay 3-4 four eggs by late April, and rely on the size of their nest to help conserve heat. The eggs are approximately the size of chicken eggs, and cinnamon colored. The eggs generally incubate for 5 weeks. After hatching, 2-ounce chicks become fliers within eight weeks. When food is scarce, the first chicks to hatch are most likely to survive.
European breeders winter in Africa. American and Canadian breeders winter in South America, although some stay in the southernmost USA states such as Florida and California. Australasian Ospreys tend not to migrate.
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Source: Wikipedia Read more about Ospreys
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VIDEO CLIPS
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Osprey
2.600MB MOV View Movie
Tropical Marine Ecology Page (R. Hays Cummins, Miami University)
Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are remarkable birds of prey who have taken to catching fish for a living. Here is a nesting pair on North Captiva Island. There nests are often greater than a meter in diameter.
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Osprey
3.180MB MOV View Movie
Tropical Marine Ecology Page (R. Hays Cummins, Miami University)
A close-up view of a nesting osprey.
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Osprey
1.560MB MOV View Movie
Tropical Marine Ecology Page (R. Hays Cummins, Miami University)
A beautiful osprey as it gets ready for flight!
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Osprey
Streaming RAM View Movie
gwmiller.com
Osprey Pair Nesting at Edwin B. Forsythe, National Wildlife Refuge, Brigantine Division in New Jersey
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Osprey
0.370MB MOV View Movie
BirdsIreland.com
Osprey
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Osprey
1.090MB AVI View Movie
Mangoverde World Bird Guide
High quality video clip by William Hull. Bird is perched on a small branch.
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Osprey
0.490MB RM View Movie
Mangoverde World Bird Guide
High quality video clip by William Hull. Bird is standing on a branch and eating a fish.
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Osprey
0.400MB RM View Movie
Mangoverde World Bird Guide
High quality video clip by William Hull. Bird is in flight.
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Osprey
0.330MB MOV View Movie
baylink.org
Osprey video clip
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Osprey
MPG View Movie
Birds of a Feather B&B;
Osprey video clip, British Columbia
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Osprey
0.420MB AVI View Movie
Biological Reasearch Information Center - Korea
Osprey clip
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Osprey
0.600MB MPG View Movie
Bird Population in Taivalkoski
Osprey video clip
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Osprey
WMV View Movie
Internet Bird Collection
An individual flying. Junglaven, Río Ventuari, Venezuela (ssp carolinensis).
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Osprey
0.390MB MOV View Movie
Creatas
Osprey catching fish
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Osprey
MOV View Movie
Pat's Backyard BirdCam
Osprey
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Osprey
View Movie
National Geographic
Gone Fishing
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