Osprey Tales

Although ospreys mate for life, they part ways each year for the fall migration. They migrate as individuals, not in groups or flocks.  They travel in small skeins like the ones we have previously described.

A skein of ospreys in V formation flight

Usually, females leave the nesting area first, followed by the males. Mates do not see each other again until they return to their nest in spring. It would be a very rare coincidence if a pair ended up in the same wintering place.

The young are left behind when parents migrate. A few days later, the young take off, too. Each one finds its own route south and winters in a different place, just as the adults do. They do not follow their parents, but work on pure instinct, following a fairly simple two-line program: Go south and stay over land as long as possible. This gets them to the Keys in Florida, the southeastern tip of Cuba, and many of them to the little peninsula on the south coast of Hispaniola.  From here they make a last leap of faith and fly to South America.

Tweedy stands alone.

Hey!  Where has everybody gone? 

The Pacific Northwest birds make a non-stop sprint migration over the western deserts and winter in Mexico and Central America. These birds rarely go as far as South America.

East coast birds go down the east coast, some fairly far inland, some along the coast, to the tip of Florida, over to Cuba, and then on to Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Some winter in the Caribbean, but the majority make the arduous trip across the Caribbean to Venezuela.

From there, they scatter across much of the South American continent, some going as far as the Pantanal in Paraguay and Southwestern Brazil. Some truly overachieving birds even make it to Argentina.

                   
Migration Map of North American Osprey

Osprey tend to be as faithful to their wintering spot in South America as they are to their nesting area up north.

Harriett left Friday.  She wished the Doctor well and posed for a super photo op.

Ozzie left yesterday.  He magnanimously made a fly by of the Doctor’s big nest to show off his transmitter.

“Those are good birds,” said the female human that lives with the Doctor.

“No!  &@% $*#!”   Exclaimed Ozzie.  “Absolutely not!  What does he think I am?  Who does he think he is?”

“No!” Squawked Ozzie

Harriett knew it would not be easy and had anticipated this reaction.  But, Harriett had already thought out various contingency responses.

“The Doctor thinks you have a keen scientific mind,” Harriett expressed her new found respect and esteem. “I wish I had your exceptional perception, reasoning and ability to learn.  I have always been envious of your thirst for knowledge and superior brain power.  It must be rewarding to expand the envelope of the avian knowledge base.   It is one of the things that make you special.”

Had she gone overboard?

“Well, yes I know,” replied Ozzie with pride.

Apparently not.

But Ozzie was suspicious.

“Somehow I think you and the Doctor are in on this thing together.  What’s the matter, Harriett?  Don’t you trust me?”

“Trust has nothing to do with it!”  Snapped Harriett, almost too quickly.

Harriett took a deep breath, praying she was being honest with herself.  She scrambled for a response. Her heart was pounding, yet she managed a calm, seemingly rational demeanor, and said,

“The Doctor and I can stay in touch via telemetry.  We want to stay in touch with you too. I care about you,” Harriett continued.

“And the doctor and his readers care about you.  And think about everything the Doctor has done for us this year.”

“Oh yes, yes I am sorry.  Yes, to us the Doctor is a true friend,” Ozzie was happy to acknowledge.

“It’s really not such a big deal,” encouraged Harriett.  “You won’t even know it is there after a day or two.  And besides you are a pretty interesting bird you know.  Remember the time you organize the poop campaign against that crazy Venezuelan dictator?”  That was some kind ‘a funny!”

Ozzie could not help but smile.

“What we do in our youth!” He laughed.

Harriett felt she was making some progress.

“Ozzie, the human scientific community will be very appreciative if you will wear the transmitter.  Humans have launched rockets into space, deployed satellites to track you if you are so inclined to participate.”

“What else can you ask?”

Ozzie gave the matter careful consideration.  He concluded there was really no down side for him.

He thought, “why not?  No feathers off my back.  And you know I will do anything for my Harriett.”

Ozzie felt a sudden jolt of joy.  He spun around and said, “I’ll do it!”

Introduction to Osprey Migration

Every year, in the autumn there is a large-scale movement of birds from their breeding (summer) homes to their nonbreeding (winter) grounds.

European osprey winter in Africa.  American and Canada breeders winter in South America, although some stay in the southernmost U.S. states such as Florida and California. Some ospreys from Florida migrate to South America.

The osprey is one of five North American raptors that are true migrants.

Osprey are long-distance migrants, (as opposed to short or medium range).  They have ranges that extend from the United States and Canada in the summer to South America through Brazil in the winter.

It is not just osprey that migrate.  More than 650 species of birds nest in North America. Some are permanent residents, but the majority of the species are migratory.

Other long distant migrants, with which you are familiar, include geese, sandpipers, herons, terns, skimmers, oystercatchers, swallows, finches, and hummingbirds.

The Arctic Tern has the longest-distance migration of any bird, moving from its Arctic breeding grounds to the Antarctic non-breeding areas.  They can make the trip in just three months starting as a fledging, a sea journey of over 22,000 km (14,000 mi).

Arctic Tern

The Doctor’s Favor

Is simple and straight forward.

The Doctor wants Ozzie to wear a satellite tracking monitor for the winter, and he wants Harriett to talk him into it.

Perhaps the Doctor should not have described the favor as “small”.  Right now he is wrestling with how to approach Harriett with this request.  He realizes he has not gotten off with a good start.

The Transmitter

Is a solar-powered satellite tracking unit that Ozzie can wear like a backpack. This unit communicates with satellites three times per day to determine his exact location.  It will last all winter.

Argos/GPS transmitter

This satellite tracker is the newest, most modern device available and weighs just 30 grams, – the weight of a small packet of chips. This equates to less than 2% of the osprey’s body weight.  It is made by Microwave Telemetry in the United States.  This one ounce Argos/GPS transmitter has sensors to measure temperature, battery voltage and osprey activity, as well as a sixteen channel GPS receiver that calculates position, altitude, heading and speed.

” I am going to talk to Harriett about it first thing in the morning,” the Doctor promised himself.

“Well, it’s August,” announced the Doctor.

“August it is,” confirmed Harriett without a second thought.

Harriet on their new future aerie

“August is special. Isn’t that right Harriett?” proclaimed the Doctor.

“Special? Sure, special if you say so. Special in what way?”

Well, August is the month baby sea turtles emerge from their nursery.  In Florida they break out in July. Here in North Carolina, loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings emerge in August, to make their way toward the ocean. Watch this video to see their late-night scuttle to freedom.

http://usat.ly/1rJKDeW

“Many wonderful things happen in August, the Doctor continued with an overly buoyant enthusiasm.”

“How do you feel, Harriett?”

“I feel fine Doctor, why do you ask?” Harriett responded with suspicion.

“Well, you know……… It’s August,” prompted the Doctor once again. ” This is the month you, Ozzie and Tweedy will be migrating south. That is special, is it not?”

Sensing the Doctor had a secondary agenda for this morning’s telepathy, Harriett responded cautiously.

“Yes, August it is,” she repeated.  “And sure, August can be special. What else is on your mind?” Inquired our Bird feigning indifference.

The Doctor was having difficulty directing Harriett towards the conversation he had in mind.

He gave it another try.

“What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when July 31 becomes August 1?” Asked the Doctor.

A full minute of silence ensued.  Harriett looked around for the missing pieces.

The Doctor continued,    “Don’t you have a special emotional attachment to this month?”

“What? Emotional attachment?” Harriet chirruped, starting to become annoyed.

“What is the Doctor thinking?  Certainly not that emotions, especially human-like emotions, affect us Raptors.  He has something else in mind; I know it. Yes; he wants something.   I am sure.” Harriett concluded.

Harriett breathed in the serenity of North River on this particular August morning.

North River August 1, 2014

She surveyed the landscape, then returned her attention to the Doctor’s open telepathic channels.

“Like what kind of emotions are you thinking about?” She strung him along.

“Like any emotions.” The Doctor’s telepathy suddenly seemed weakened and unsure of itself.

“I like August.  It’s my favorite month,” piped up Harriett, baiting the Doctor to expose himself some more.

“What sort of emotional attachments do YOU have with this month; the approaching end to school summer vacation?” She smirked.

The Doctor cringed.  “She’s playing with me!”  The Doctor’s intuition was functioning well.  Yes of course, the Doctor realized.  This is the Harriett I have grown to know and love.  There isn’t anything new here.  She is playing with me; no doubt.  The Doctor was sure.  He knew Harriett better that she knew herself.

“I can play this game too,” thought the Doctor.

But he was worried.  What he has in mind is important to him and his readers. One small favor.

“Harriett,” said the Doctor.  “You are my most trusted friend, and, well………  I have a very special favor to ask.”

“I knew it!” squawked Harriett.  “I knew it was coming.  Can’t wait to hear what he’s up to.”

Temptation is the desire to perform an action that one may enjoy immediately or in the short term, but will probably be regretted later for various reasons: legal, social, psychological (including feeling guilt), health-related, economic, etc.

“I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.”
― Mae West

Under the influence

Harriett realized she was under the influence; under the power, the alluring, the exciting, the seductive power of our topic today.

“Holy Moly, my oh me! Me my, oh!  No, is it so?”  Harriett’s brain was incoherently raving.  “Good Grief, it will not let me go!”  Her lunacy continued.

Harriett suddenly recognizing her defenselessness against temptation.

Eavesdropping on the Doctor’s cell phone calls was controlling her life.

“Get a grip! Grip, grip, grip……….” echoed the Mysterious Narrator.

Harriet flailed helplessly.   “Resist I cannot!”

Help!

It did not take long for Harriett to get a grip:

“Resist, resist, resist,” she was exhorting herself.

When……….

“Resist What?” Asked the Doctor.

A mind numbing shock wave washed over sweet Harriett.

Thunderstruck, she fell over backwards.  In shock she could only stammer, “Oh, #$%!  What?  #%&!  Hello,  Is that you Doctor?”

“Yes, Harriett it is,” replied the Doctor calmly, indifferently, almost reassuringly.

Harriett was sick with anxiety, helplessness and dread.  She became nauseated and began to tremble.

“Have you been receiving my latest thoughts?”  Harriett managed, in a near panic.  She feared the worst, and she realized the worst was about to happen.

“Yes I have.”

Harriett’s heart stopped.  She was about to die.  Then she realized the Doctor’s thought transference came across gently, nervelessly, lovingly and as clear as rebirth into a crystalline state of purity.

They were non-judgmental, compassionate, lovingly wise.

“Oh Doctor, I am so, so sorry….”  Harriett was mortified.  She began to cry.

“No, no, Harriett.  Do not cry.  Worry not my brave confidant.  I assure you. You are in good company. We are all tested at one time or another.  Let’s just chalk this up to a learning experience.”

“OK, ok, Doctor.” Harriett whispered timidly.  “Doctor, are you ….. sure?” she choked.

“Yes, of course.”

She wanted to tell the Doctor she loved, him but it didn’t feel right at this time.

Nonetheless, the Doctor’s telepathy skills are so improved that he felt it.

It was a Blue-Orange Sunrise this morning.

The Doctor Calls

“Harriett? Harriett, are you there?” The Doctor directed his thought, as the osprey flies, straight as an arrow, towards the platform.

Both O & H were perched high, upon their rebuilt home.

O & H slightly out of focus

“Is this as high as we can get?” complained Ozzie. “We are only 12 feet above the water line, for goodness sake.”

“Don’t complain,” enjoined Harriett. “We need to be thankful for the Doctor’s efforts. Besides, rumor has it the Doctor has bought an 8 x 8, 25 foot piling from the Happy Osprey lumber yard.”

“Chirp,” Ozzie chimed in.

“And that’s not all,” she giggled. “Today he bought 6 cedar three foot 1 x 6’s, two eight foot juniper 5 x 2’s, and a single five foot 2 x 6 of treated yellow pine.”

“How do you know all this?” Ozzie inquired.

“Well,” Harriett paused, her head slightly bowed.

Uncomfortably, Harriett shifted from right talons to left. And then she admitted; “I’ve been monitoring his cell phone calls.”

“What!” Squawked Ozzie.

“What do mean, ‘What?’?” Cringed our heroine.

“You know what I mean, when I say ‘What!’” forewarned Ozzie.

“Are you suggesting I should not have listened in?” (How coy can one get)

“You are @&%! right, that is exactly what I am suggesting!”

Ozzie was not happy.

Ozzie very annoyed with Harriett

“Ozzie,” she piped. “I like the way your brown brow stripes furrows at times.”

And………..Harriett skillfully talked her way out of another uncomfortable situation.

aerie*  (noun \ˈer-ē, ˈir-, ˈā-(ə-)rē\)

The nest of a bird of prey, built high in a tree, cliff or man-made platform.

“Watch where you put your wing tips, Ozzie.  The Doctor has the camera working again.”

“I can’t believe it,” said Ozzie. “I didn’t think he was that smart.”

Ozzie is zealously rebuilding the nest. Whoever coined the term “frustration aerie” must have been one of those half empty humans. From now on, this nest building situation will be called “Future Aerie”.

*Warning:  Do not Google “aerie”.  You will see pictures of bras and female underwear.

Who has red-orange eyes? Whose flight feathers are tipped in white? Who has a specked light brown necklace just like her mother’s? And who has grown bigger and stronger than both of her parents?

Hello Tweedy. It’s nice of you to stop by.

Tweedy was picking her beak after a snack of speckled trout. She caught it on her first dive and wanted her mother to know. She is a fully grown young adult with powerful wings and her Dad’s instinctive fishing abilities.

Tweedy, like her mother, is an independent thinker. She considers the hurricane a natural part of her life.

“So, this is the way it is; I can handle it.”

She mostly came by to assuage the Doctor’s anxiety over her state of well-being. The Doctor appreciates it very much.

Does not she look good? Those young male chicks in South America will have their wings full.

Her talons really turn the Doctor on.

Tweedy is alive. This happy affirmation found a comfortable spot in the Doctor’s prefrontal cortex and is contented.

The Doctor’s remaining web cam ceased to function at 05:50 this morning. The Doctor has had a tough year with his equipment.

No eulogy please. He is proud of this old camera. It survived the hurricane and two days of high tide, nearly drowning its spirit. Around here we don’t look backwards; we keep moving forward, anticipating new osprey excitement and new ideas. Curiosity obligates our interest.

The Eyrie

Some observers of ospreys note that breeding pairs often construct a new nest following a natural disaster. The nest, called an “eyrie”, is generally built on the top of what remains of their old nest, or in this case their nesting platform. It is usually a weak intimation of their original nest.

Before our camera winked out, it courageously gave us these images.

It would not be right not to thank you for your dedicated service.

Thank you, Outdoor Web Camera #38-F, Beta pixel augment 4, Digital Relay 6 DVR; T-Mobile Sprint image processor Pro.

Do not think you are unappreciated.

Now we must get back to the Doctor’s Affirmations.