Blog # 311

Orpheus favoring his left eye. 

Orpheus has been keeping his left eye shut most of the time since April 9th; an injury is  suspected. Eye injuries can be catastrophic for Ospreys as they are visual hunters.  About five years ago, Orpheus had a similar problem with his left eye and kept it closed  for about two weeks. He had probably scratched his cornea while hunting, but he self healed. This year Orpheus has been favoring the eye for almost two weeks, and I am  starting to worry that it is seriously damaged. Will it heal and, if not, will this affect  Orpheus’s ability to provide for himself and his family? 

Ospreys locate their prey by sight and plunge dive to catch them. To be successful and  catch a meal requires extraordinary eyesight. Researchers estimate Ospreys’ visual  accuity is four times that of humans, allowing the bird to track prey from hundreds of  feet away. Their binocular vision is necessary to account for the diffraction of water,  which makes the fish appear farther ahead than they are.  

So far, Orpheus still brings twigs and soft nesting materials to the nest and apparently  has no trouble copulating with Ophelia. (There’s a shocker, eh?) However, the number  of fish brought to the nest is lower than normal. She is being fed two rather than the  more normal three meals per day. 

Orpheus on April 9 when his eye was healthy. 

The question is, will Orpheus be able to compensate enough to feed his family? If he  concentrates on catching bullheads in the reaches of Salmon Creek he might be fine for  the season. But can he live and continue functioning as a breeding adult in this  condition? 

Hopefully, the eye will self-heal, and a full recovery will follow. There is no way to  capture Orpheus to take him to the Swanson wildlife clinic for treatment wtihout causing  substantial stress to the pair. All we can do is patiently wait and see. One of the many  lessons learned from being on Osprey time. 

Eyes to the sky!  

Candace 

Candace E. Cornell  

Friends of Salt Point & 

Cayuga Osprey Network  

Lansing, NY  

cec222@gmail.com

HELP PROTECT OSPREYS: 

• Keep a distance (100-300 feet) from active nests in the breeding season. If an  animal vocalizes when you are near, you are too close! BACK OFF IMMEDIATELY. • Carry binoculars to view wildlife from a distance. 

• Help keep local waters clean and healthy. Preserve and clean shorelines. • Recycle or dispose of used fishing line and other materials that can entangle  Ospreys and other aquatic animals. 

• Volunteer to monitor Osprey nests with the Cayuga Osprey Network. Write to:  cec222@gmail.com.  

EYES ON OSPREYS 

WATCH! 

Salt Point Osprey Nest Cam 2021 

READ! 

On Osprey Time—a blog on the Ospreys of Salt Point 

VISIT! 

Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail

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