On Osprey Time

  Many of us look to the sky to see a flock of birds flying by assuming they were like  robots going about their business. Robots, indeed! Birds are living, breathing, thinking,  sensing animals not that different than for us humans in many ways. An Osprey’s  experience is far richer, more complex, more deliberate, and thoughtful way than  humans ever imagined. Their lives are filled with obligations and risks, posing  challenges to surviving and having a successful family life.  Ophelia gently feeding fish to Lucky (left) while Hope waits (right).   Screenshot from the Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam.  Ospreys interact with the environment and make decisions constantly. Nest building, for  example, is instinctive and even nestlings get into the act, moving sticks and grass  around. The decision of where to build a nest is based on numerous parameters involving food availability, visibility, available substrates, and protection from predators.  However, Ospreys constantly adapt their nest b

What is the most prominent feature you see when you look at an Osprey? I see it’s huge front-facing eyes. Adult Ospreys have brilliant yellow eyes, but they are not born  with this color eye as it is hormonally regulated. The osprey’s eye color changes from  dark blue when first hatched to blood red in nestlings to orange-yellow in juveniles,  which remain like this for their migration to South America. When ospreys return north  to breed at the age of two or three, however, their eyes are bright yellow!  For birds of prey, including Ospreys, keen eyesight is absolutely critical for finding food,  spotting predators, and generally staying alive. However, Ospreys lead an active life  that could be very hard on the eyes: flying and diving under water at breakneck speeds to capture spiny, struggling fish can inflict damage.  The translucent nictitating membrane with a bluish tinge covering   the eyeball of this panting adult Osprey, courtesy of Hellgate Ospreys.  When an Osprey dives into

  This is America! Ospreys should have the same protections as eagles. Courtesy of Spiritcruises.com   Happy Birthday America, but after the party please clean up after yourselves. The July   4th holidays are the most popular days of the year for going to the beach and the   beginning of summer beach parties and picnics. The idea is to celebrate our country   and enjoy our community, but such festivities often leave behind garbage plastic   utensils, diapers, cigarettes, fishing line, plastic bags, food wrappers, straws, beer cans,   and other lethal legacies that pollute and often severely harm or kill aquatic birds and   animals. Fireworks create more of a mess than you might imagine. Each one of the   launched rockets leaves behind paper, metal, and plastic debris that is harmful if   ingested by animals and painful if stepped on.   A shiny foil wrapper on the surface of the water might look like lunch to a kingfisher flying above or to a hungry turtle or bass. A tangle of fishing