Ozzie’s sky dance was almost perfunctory this year. Already he has won me over, has my heart, and he knows it. Unfortunately, he also knows I’m crazy in love with him. He hasn’t put on much of a show this year since, but we both know it is not necessary; I know he loves me too.

However, compare that to last year, and the year before that and that!  Whew!

Those first few years, he really put on a show. While trying to impress me, Ozzie can fly directly up, over the remnants of our old nest and put on an aerial display unequaled to any other.

When he is really in the mood, Ozzie can fly straight up 600 feet or more at great speed, beating his wings rapidly, often carrying a fish or piece of nesting material. At that height he hovers five, maybe ten minutes, with his tail fanned and talons dangling. Then he dives like a rocket down varying distances and quickly ascends to repeat the hover-dive senerio several more times. He usually screams out “creee” or “cheeerk” as he performs.  It fills our territory, alerting any other suitors to beware..

Sometimes Ozzie the will catch a huge flounder or trout and fly circles around our nest. “Cree! cree!”, he calls attention to himself. What a braggart! I can’t blame him though. He is the most expert fishermen, far and away, up and down the Atlantic sea coast. And he’s not modest about it either! He is an unabashed, cocky, show off when he boastfully dances in the sky.  But hey, it’s a lot of fun and providing plenty of food is the sort of thing I like in a mate.