Osprey Tales

Urban development, road building, agriculture, logging, erosion, water pollution and more are destroying the natural habitat of osprey. Man-made artificial platforms have been helpful.

The Doctor’s first platform – 2014

Hurricane Arthur

Ospreys are beachcombers. A sundry of shore line flotsam and jetsam are frequently found incorporated into their structures: plastic bags, pieces of plastic toys, fishing line and more.

Looking at an osprey nest, one can tell how the world has changed.

Oddities found in osprey nests in the nineteenth century: a rag doll, a small doormat, a toy sailboat complete with sail, a feather duster, barrel staves and hoops, a boot-jack, 20 feet of hem rope, a blacking brush, a remnant from an oilskin rain slicker, and bleached-out bones from domestic animals like cattle and sheep.

Now, in the twenty first century we find: rubber boots, bicycle tires, Hula Hoops, sections of television antennas, styrofoam cups and plastic hamburger containers.

Here are some items used in osprey nest construction over the last couple of years.

“I hope you and your loved ones will stay safe and healthy during these trying times, and always feel free to drop me a line (by responding to this email) to let me know how you’re doing,” said Harriett.

Osprey Nest 2

The nest site is not far from water, usually on top of a large tree (often with a dead or broken top) allowing 360 degrees of visibility.

Nesting on a structure over water will protect them from the ground predators such as raccoons.

Any place, high, safe, with a wide field of vision and plenty of fish will do.

Osprey nests are built of sticks and lined with bark, sod, grasses, vines, algae, or flotsam and jetsam. The male fetches the nesting material and the female arranges it.

If the sky dance is spectacular foreplay, then the copulation itself is fast and furious, lasting just a few seconds. Successful fertilization requires a “cloacal kiss.”

A male will land on a female’s back many times without this final contact being made.

Sometimes Harriett is just not in the mood.

Early in the breeding season, males typically perform an undulating aerial display called the “sky-dance.”

At the top of each undulation, males hover briefly with their legs dangling and their tails fanned, and then dive downward with their wings drawn in. They may repeat this sequence several times.

While performing the display, males usually carry a fish or nesting material and call repeatedly a “creee” or “creeek creee.”

It has really been a wonderful afternoon

Older, more experienced birds arrive in their old nesting areas first, always to the very same nest they built the year before. Males precede females by three or four days and start to rebuild their nest.

“Jonathan and I have taken care of the Eagle threat,” said Harriett.

“Next, nest repairs.”

“I do so want the Doctor to be proud of me.”

It’s not the size

Hell hath no fury!

Plus, it was two against one.

“No contest,” said Harriett. “We no longer have a problem.”