Osprey Tales

A very good observation. The 2 young chicks have been constantly looking for the shaded areas over these last few days.  Sometimes Harriett will extend a wing and make a sort of tent for them.

I’m not sure how well O&H are getting along. Harriett seems to be annoyed with him if he does not bring a fish within 2- 3 hours.  And then, when he does bring a fish,in they seem to have an argument over who should be in charge of the fish. Almost always Ozzie has eaten the head off the fish before he brings it back to the nest. I think Harriett sees this and concludes that Ozzie has had enough. But sometimes Ozzie does not want to let go. During these times. Harriett gets agitated and basically fights for the remainder of the fish. All the while, the 2 young chicks are ecstatic with excitement. I know some of you have audio. I wish all of you did. It’s really great to hear them fussing and fighting over an incoming meal.

 
Daddy brings in a fish.  Mommy takes it from him.  Mommy feeds us.

         
Oh boy! Here comes Daddy with a fish.           Ozzie brings home a fish.

   
Ozzie has eaten the head off the fish.        Harriett tears off little fish strips.

       Harriett feeds her chicks.

Compare the size of the chicks to the unhatched egg.  They are only 10 days old!

Osprey are the greatest of all fishermen. Remember what we have learned in previous years.

Some of you have seen it before. I have no doubt you will enjoy seeing it a 2nd or 3rd time.

The Doctor thinks this is wonderful photography.

No one can fish like an Osprey.

I’m really interested in what you think will become of my third egg.

The first born is David.  You can see a small black streak on his left fore head. The second born is Jesse. He does not have this little black streak.

I’ve never had three hatchlings before. David and Jesse are getting very strong and aggressively taking the food that I offer. You know what I’m talking about. If this third egg hatches he/she is going to have a heck of a  time getting his/her share of food.

Knowing Mother Nature the way I do, I have my own thoughts.

“A lot of money was lost by those who bet on my 3^rd egg hatching today.

I do not approve of this singular H. sapien activity called “betting” or gambling in general.

Perhaps the money-pot had been stirred by the equine activities of the weekend, but we all know gambling and games of chance have been around since the days of antiquity.

 
         American Pharoah                                              Affirmerd

 
             Seattle Slew                                                 Secretariat

I ask you with all sincerity. Do not take Ozzie and me simply as a source of entertainment.

We have serious issues to discuss, the least being the morality of gambling.  Let it be known there will be no further frivolous H. sapien comments regarding our lives. I have made the Doctor promise to block any reader that cannot take us seriously, or at least think in the same realm of consciousness in which our beliefs reside.  Please do not take offense

On a lighter note, I thought I felt my 3^rd egg moving beneath my brooding pouch today. Ozzie has been very encouraging. He has let me know that he can catch more than enough fish to raise 3 nestlings this year.

Some of you already know. Ozzie is the ultimate fisherman. Just wait until you see what he can do.

Good night and sleep tight,”

Harriett

“No offense taken,” echoed the Cosmos.

Harriet has been kind to the Doctor today. She has freely shared her thoughts with him.

“It’s been a long time since you’ve been so relaxed and comfortable communicating with me,” said the Doctor.

“I don’t intend to be distant or non-communicative,” replied Harriett.  “But in case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been very busy lately.”

“Congratulations on your two hatchlings,” continued the Doctor, hoping to encourage her into additional thought transmissions.

“Thank you,” Harriet replied. “These babies certainly do seem to be strong and healthy. If my third egg hatches, it will probably be today or tomorrow. You can tell the world if I give birth and sustain three chicks into fledgling-hood.”

The Doctor smiled.

“We’re all rooting for you.  You have all of our support and best wishes, Harriett.  All of your readers care for you and love you.”

“Kind words,” Harriett continued.  “You H. sapiens sometime annoy me with your air-conditioned nest and internal combustion machines. But I don’t want to be confrontational. I appreciate your love and concern.”

“What about The Mission?” Asked the Doctor.

This thought transfer upset Harriett greatly.

“Don’t talk to me about The Mission right now. Can’t you see I’ve got my wings full!”

There was a long silence.  The Doctor began to feel uncomfortable. Their telepathy was disrupted. The Doctor feared he had offended her. After a minute or two. She transfered the following thought:

“I really do appreciate you Doctor. And I really do appreciate all of your friends and my readers.  I can’t help but be especially appreciative of all the baby names that are coming in.”

———————————————————————————————————

 Potential baby names continue to arrive.

Eun (Gaelic for “Bird”)

David

Ashley

Chance

Justice

Jesse

Tracey, Pacey, and Casey (all gender-neutral and they rhyme)

————————————————————————————————–

The names keep coming:

Prince

Edgar

Bruce

Grace

Helen

Libby

Nikki

Sunny

Travis

—————————————————————————————————–

“Okay, okay,” said Harriett. “Enough baby name suggestions! There’s a lot going on here. Good grief! Don’t distract me with such frivolity.  Let’s get real….”

“Darn Harriett, you seem to be a little bit touchy today.”

The Doctor’s comment agitated Harriett even more.

Harriet took a deep breath. She collected herself and told Ozzie to go catch a fish.

Then she confided in the Doctor that the experience with Ivan the Terrible had really shaken her. She was trying to get it out of her mind. It was a nightmare that did not happen. She just cannot imagine life without Ozzie, and that monstrous Ivan the Terrible really made her sick.

“Praise Triple O!” Was all Harriett’s brain could construe. Her ethereal spirit could not verbalize her Thanksgiving. ” Thank you Triple O“. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Triple O…….. words could not express her appreciation.

Harriett snuggled up with her two hatchlings to keep them warm. She also scooped her third egg directly beneath her brooding pouch to provide it with its best chance of hatching.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have three hatchlings she mused.

The Doctor sensed her sentimentality. He backed off gently.

“I love you Harriett,” he said.

“I love you too, Doctor.”

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

Hi Harriett,

This has been quite a year!  I was anxious from the beginning went you and Ozzie returned so late. Then I wondered if the two of you would build your nest in the Taj Mahal, and then there was that scare with Ivan the Terrible.  By the way, Ozzie’s sky dance was spectacular.

We looked at the Doctor’s  pictures this morning and thought of some names for your babies.  Some names are in sets of 3 since there are 3 eggs – the kids thought they should go together!

Here they are:

1. Lulu
2. Squeaky
3. Yaya
4. King Kong
5. Michelangelo, Leonardo and Donatello
6. Mario, Luigi and King Kupa
7. Luke Skywalker, Princess Lea and Darth Vader
8. Daisy, Donald, Mickie, Minnie, Goofy

Best of luck with your babies!  Keep us posted.  Our last day of school is June 12.

Mary  and my kindergarten class.