On Osprey Time

Kayakers at Fenwick, DE, stay at least 300 ft. away from nests, courtesy of coastal kayak. Come and experience the exhilaration of gliding silently through the water in a kayak while witnessing the majestic dives of an Osprey, a shoreline great blue heron gobble a perch, or a pair of young eagles grappling talons and spinning while playing. The luckiest might see a lone loon on a misty morning. The natural beauty of Cayuga Lake and the many creatures that thrive there do so because of the lake’s high water quality; we must appreciate and protect these clean waters and the animals that depend on them. Geese, ducks, mergansers, gulls, kingfishers, egrets, beavers, muskrat, whitetail deer, fox, turtles, water snakes, frogs, and over a hundred species of fish are just some of the wildlife that live in and along Cayuga’s shorelines enriching our lives. How can it be that some people thrive on nature and others show it no respect?     Kayakers respect a 300 ft distance from t...

Moana teased the geese and gulls, courtesy of Cindy Sedlacek. The sky is filled with Osprey parents and fledglings, now that they are mobile. Lansing fledglings from the nearby Churchill, Myers Hill, and even Cargill nests fish around Salt Point and next door Myers Point, interacting with Moana, Makani, and Lani. The young Salt Point Osprey are now in the post-phase of the breeding cycle, a period about which little is known because of the mobility of the family. The post-fledging phase is a time for exploration, learning, and imprinting on the landscape. It is also the time to hone survival skills such as flying and fishing by playing and teasing other species. Although it looks quiet, the Osprey nest is still the site of regular family meals and lots of commotion. This same nest-switching is happening in all areas around Cayuga Lake. Their explorations may take the fledglings 20–30 miles away from the nest as they learn the lay of the land. They gradually lose their affinity for the ...

One of the most remarkable things about the animal kingdom and just one of the many crazy things about the English language is the variety of collective nouns that all mean “group.” A ‘flock’ of flamingos, a ‘swarm’ of swallows, or a ‘group’ of eagles: many bird species have different collective nouns to describe large groups, such as a ‘raft,’ a ‘band,’ a ‘host,’ a ‘chime,’ and or a ‘kettle.’ Although many of these terms are seldom used, antiquated, or just plain silly (like ‘mewing’ for catbirds), they are still unique and distinctive names known to birders. A flock of crows is also known as a ‘murder’ as crows were once considered an omen of death because of their habit of scavenging dead bodies—human-based carrion—for food.   Many terms for flocking are descriptive not only of the bird group but also their behaviors and personalities. Understanding these esoteric terms and their associated behaviors offers new avenues of study and a deeper appreciation for ornithology and the ...