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.
The Pump is Fixed
The Doctor has been out for a few days. One of the pipes in his sump pump got clogged and a bunch of the old electrical wiring had to be reconfigured. It’s working real well now. It didn’t require any new parts and the insurance will pay for it all.
While he was out he left his office window open just like in the old days.
Open Window, Wind from the Sea, Wyeth(1947).
The Doctor was not home but his H. sapien sweetheart was asleep in the bedroom.
“I flew in very quietly,” said Harriett.
The H. sapien that lives with the Doctor, in his giant nest on the bank of the North River, does not know about our arrangement. We did this a lot last year, before I learned telekinesis…..and we never got caught.”
Female H. sapien is a sound sleeper.
“Peck, peck, click, peck, peck, click, click, space. Click, peck, space, peck, back-pack.” peck…..
The Doctor’s keyboard sounded louder than usual.
“Someone is looking at me,” sensed Harriett.
Harriet rotated her head towards the office door. Sure enough, the big blond canine, that seems to have less sense than the black one, was staring at her. His eyes reflected the blue-white light of the monitor.
“Shhh”… Said I.”
And true to form the big blond canine shhh’ed.
Harriett provocatively, risked making a scene.
” You’re not the brightest bulb, are you?” She taunted.
Marley climbed back on the living room sofa, where he was not allowed, silently.
“I think he felt happy not to get caught too.”
“A lot of money was lost by those who bet on my 3rd 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 3rd 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:
Best of luck with your babies! Keep us posted. Our last day of school is June 12.
Mary and my kindergarten class.
Harriett’s second egg hatched this morning at 5:43 AM.
This morning she is quiet and comfortably confident. She has Ozzie bringing in fish by the bucket load. Ozzie is happy and proud to oblige.
The Doctor has never seen them so happy.
A picture truly is worth 1000 words.
Harriett’s first egg hatched today at 3:46 PM. Most of the hatching took place beneath Harriett’s brooding pouch. She seemed reluctant to let the world know what was happening. It caused a lot of excitement in the Doctor’s office; the office staff and patients all watched.
Ozzie has already brought them a bluefish. It looks like he ate the head off and is giving the rest to Harriett.
Harriett saved the tail of the fish to have as a snack later .
Hello, Mary Asbell’s class. Hello, Mister Alex Glass’s class. Hello, Beaufort Elementary school. Hello children and grandchildren of the faithful readers. And hello to the bridge world, who share the concept of age and time as being existential.
It’s time to think of baby names. Last year Mrs. Asbell’s kindergarten class named Tweedy. The year before, bridge player extraordinaire, who shall remain anonymous, named Riki.
I’m not asking for free advice. I’m just trying to have a little fun. Here are some really cool facts about Osprey which I offer for your efforts.
Cool Facts About Ospreys
Ospreys are one of the most common and well-known birds of prey in the world. They are cool, too! Here are some fun, interesting and cool facts about Ospreys.
• Ospreys are found on every continent except Antarctica. They breed on all continents except Antarctica and South America.
• Ospreys eat a diet which consists almost exclusively of fish. This earned them the nickname “sea hawk.”
• Ospreys hunt fish by hovering over water and then diving feet first to capture prey in their powerful talons.
• An Osprey’s outer toe is reversible, which means they can carry prey (slippery fish) with two toes in front and two toes behind.
• While flying away with the freshly-caught prey, an Osprey will manipulate the fish so that it is parallel to the bird’s body, and thus aerodynamic.
• The oldest known North American Osprey lived to be 25 years old.
• During the mid-20th century, North American Osprey populations suffered great losses (along with other birds of prey) due to widespread use of the pesticide DDT. After DDT and other contaminants were banned, the Osprey recovered fairly quickly.
• Ospreys make large nests on the top of dead or live trees. They will also readily use nest platforms or other man-made structures like utility poles.
Now, name the birds!
Unlike most birds, osprey will continue to brood (keep warm) their chicks even after they are born. Often they will brood their hatchlings until the last egg has hatched.
Like all diurnal birds of prey, osprey hatchlings emerge as “semi-precocial” young.
Down covers their bodies.
Down covers their bodies and their eyes open hours after hatching.
They will actively take food with their bills.
 | Harriett Raptor on First flight |
 | Vicky on Hatchlings |
 | Louise Kelly on Hatchlings |
 | Michelle Huff on Osprey Talons |
 | Kao Jieni on Three eggs! |
Osprey Tales 