Many of us are know that peregrines are great hunters but we don’t often get to see the amazing fishing skills of ospreys.
This video from Arkive.org is certain to impress you. Just look at the size of that last fish!
And, did you know…?
At the coast osprey nests are often within sight of each other. Like a loosely organized colony, they watch each other to see who returns with a fish and follow the successful hunters out to hunt the same area.
Osprey can even identify the fishes held by others and are more likely to follow a neighbor who returns with a fish that lives in schools. Schooling fish are never alone. There’s more where that came from!
(video from Arkive.org on YouTube)
All I can say is WOW…..that was amazing.
Me too… WOW!
Haven’t watched the video yet, but I’ve seen it in real life. More than once.
And it’s definitely spectacular.
Good information.
I live at the shore and have the pleasure of keeping tabs on 2 osprey pairs. The interesting part for me is that the one pair always returns to its breeding spot basically 3/17 give or take a day. They build a colossal nest on a cell tower, right at the top and in the center. Last year, their nest was taken down (post breeding season) as a new tier was added to the tower. So from scratch, these guys again built a nest that could withstand a hurricane. The other pair of ospreys returns late (perhaps they have a longer commute), the beginning of April let’s say. They are so lackadaisical in the building of their nest which they position on a side rung of a cell tower, not at the top. They seem to gather just a few sticks. You can basically see through their nest. It looks like its falling apart all the time with no integration. Yet they seem to raise babes o.k. It’s no wonder that the eggs don’t fall through the bottom!
Osprey webcams:
http://osprey.ferris.edu/
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/colorado/longmont/
Both nests have eggs. These are high def streaming cams.
I saw an osprey while crossing the Highland Park Bridge 3 years ago…no fish but surely exciting!
Enjoyed the video of these superb acrobatic flyers. Watching them this week I think they realize how good they are and enjoy showing off to each other.
Hi, Kate. Wondering if you are aware of the Osprey nest at Donegal Lake?
In NYC, @ Wildlife Refuge, there are 2 active osprey’s nests.
I’ve taken a few pictures by one of these:
http://g3.img-dpreview.com/629DC826C2DF4F4F905C11EBE398E905.jpg
http://g4.img-dpreview.com/6A876FFB73214F5EA01CBAEFD56B232D.jpg
http://g1.img-dpreview.com/3CAB6C1A4BE54E21BC0647C74F2E70A2.jpg
http://ia117.odnoklassniki.ru/getImage?photoId=422592353673&photoType=0
http://ia117.odnoklassniki.ru/getImage?photoId=422592353161&photoType=0
http://ia117.odnoklassniki.ru/getImage?photoId=422592353417&photoType=0
recently we got to observe osprey fishing “up close and personal”. we were canoeing in a portion of Falls Lake in Durham, NC that does not allow motorized vehicles, and osprey were circling above us and diving for fish just yards away. on that same trip we were surprised by a bald eagle who took off out of the trees on the edge of the lake.