Birds with Fish: Osprey

Since I recently finished a series on Birds with Bugs, I thought a series on Birds with Fish was in order. This topic, however, has become a little more challenging since moving to the Arizona desert in 2002. 

Nonetheless, we start today with the Osprey. 

Osprey distribution is worldwide except for Antarctica. In the western hemisphere they winter in South America and Summer in the Northwest United States and most of Canada. They breed during the summer months throughout their summer range. Obviously, they can be found between these two zones during migration. 

Their diet is almost entirely fish. In fact, it is the only bird of prey that feeds exclusively on fish.

Therefore, ospreys are found near water, either fresh or salt, where large numbers of fish are present. They are commonly found around major coastal estuaries and salt marshes, but also regular around large lakes, reservoirs, rivers. Hence a smaller population in Arizona. Migrating Ospreys are sometimes seen far from water, even over the desert.

They fly slowly over water, pausing to hover when fish are spotted below; if  a fish is close enough to surface, the Osprey plunges feet-first, grasping prey in its talons.

They carry their catch parallel to their own body and head first to keep it aerodynamic (as seen in the first photo).

Their outer toe is reversible so it can grasp with three toes forward and one toe backward or with two toes forward and two toes backward (giving them a more stable grip in flight).

Ospreys typically lay 2 to 4 eggs. Their eggs don't all hatch at once however. It is usually five days between the first and last hatchling. Females stay with the chicks most of the time. The male is responsible for finding food and bringing it to the nest. Ospreys often use the same nest for years. Nests are usually near water where food is present.

Osprey with Trout above Ernst Lake, British Columbia

Osprey Eating Fish at Agua Caliente, Arizona

Osprey with Trout at Lake Chopaka, Washington

Osprey with Fish at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Wyoming

Osprey with Rainbow Trout

Back in the early 90's I was fly fishing Lake Chopaka in North Central Washington (near the Canadian Border). I wasn't having much luck but it sure was beautiful. At one point, about 20 feet away I saw an Osprey sitting on a rock at the water's edge. He had 20 inch Rainbow Trout clutched in his talons. He allowed me to stop fishing, get out my camera, and taking several photos. After taking the photos I moved on and left him there to eat. The photo below I thought worthy of a "5" Star rating:

Osprey with 20 inch Rainbow Trout

Agua Caliente - Part VI

I have a moment's break, so I'll try to get in a quick post. 

We're getting ready for the wedding of our baby girl. Well, she's actually 36 but she's our youngest. The wedding is here at The Azure Gate, big affair with people flying in from Hawaii, Seattle, New Jersey, and New York among other places. We're working on a family history DVD to show at the reception. Included are photos of our daughter and new son's Great, and Great Great grandparents on their wedding days.  The oldest photo is from 1879:

On top of that, we're still taking guests until Monday. (Wedding's the 13th). So, very little time to go looking for wildlife to photograph. 

In the meantime, I'll continue with photos I already have of Agua Caliente. 

Osprey eating a fish taken from the lake.

Cooper's Hawk awaiting for the unsuspecting poultry meal.

Ernst Lake, British Colubia

Another favorite fishing spot in British Columbia was Ernst Lake. A bit of a challenge to get to, but it meant I could camp there for a week and never see another person. Ernst was another of BC's "Trophy Lakes," with Kamloops Trout ranging from a minimum of 3 pounds up to 8 -- all jumpers. Several times I saw a Mule Deer lying down in what must have been a favorite spot for him. And, then there were the Osprey, that would dive into the lake and come away with one of those 3 pounders. The Osprey would be always circle the lake after their catch to show off.  Here are those photos:

Young Mule Deer Buck

Osprey with Kamloops Trout

Nests - Part VIII

I miss Ospreys. Since their main diet is fish, not too many in Southern Arizona.  Whenever I went fly fishing (in the northwestern US and Canada) they were a constant companion. Often they would encircle a lake I was fishing -- just to show off their catch. But, that's another Blog. Here are their nests. As you can see from the first photo their nests can be quite large. The female is on the nest with the male on "lookout" at a branches end. In the second photo you can see two young chicks in addition to their mom.

Osprey Nest over Lake Nicola, British Columbia

Osprey Nest near a lumber mill in Columbia Valley, British Columbia

Predators with Their Prey: Raptors

Raptors don't have an easy time of it either. However, they succeed often enough to survive.

Bald Eagle with 30 pound Salmon

The rare Gray Hawk with a bird of some kind

Osprey with 24 inch Rainbow Trout

Sharp Shinned Hawk with Mourning Dove

Yes, and a Turkey Vulture with a Coyote

Agua Caliente, Arizona - Part V

Continuing coverage of Agua Caliente, a "Warm Springs" and Park about four miles from us, there is the occasional raptor. Typically, I don't go to Agua Caliente to photograph raptors. It's normally waterbirds and flycatchers. But once in a while:

There is a Cooper's Hawk looking for one of those flycatchers, or the more common desert ground birds (doves and quail).

Osprey at rare to Southern Arizona, but this one found a fish dinner at Agua Caliente.

There are a pair of Great Horned Owls that seem to nest in the large palm trees each Spring.  This is probably the mom.

And, here is a very young Owlet in the nest.

Raptors: Part VIII

The Osprey is a fish eating bird found on all continents except Antarctica. Its body is a little larger than a Red Tail Hawk, but its wingspan is nearly as large as a Turkey Vulture. I remember flyfishing once at Ernst Lake in Central British Columbia. I used to spend four or five days camping there -- never seeing another human being; moose, bear, wolves, deer, but no people. It was wonderful. Ernst is a "trophy lake." We're talking a minimum 3 pound trout, an occasional 5 pound trout, and once in a while an 8 pound trout. Here is one of my first photos, of an Osprey who had just caught what appears to be a 3 or 4 pound trout and was showing off as he took several victory laps around the lake:

Notice that the 23" body length of the Osprey is smaller than the trout.

Another time I was flyfishing Lake Chopaka right along the US-Canadian border in Northcentral Washington (once again by myself). Osprey dive into the water to catch their fish. It is quite a sight as is this Osprey feeding on his catch:

Osprey are migrating birds wintering in Canada (and northern parts of the US) and spending their summers in the US and Mexico. Here is a nest I found near Nicola, British Columbia:

And another Osprey nest, near the headwaters of the 1200 mile Columbia River (also British Columbia):

Rarely does an Osprey find Tucson a "feast" but, I did get this photo on a telephone pole near Agua Caliente, the small pond just a couple of miles from us:

As you can see, he has found something to eat.

Osprey Family

We don't often see Osprey in the southern part of Arizona. This is probably due to the fact that we don't often see water in the southern part of Arizona. No water, no fish. No fish, no Osprey. But, in British Columbia, sooner or later you'll see osprey at every lake you visit. Just north of Merritt, along the highway is a telephone pool with a large nest, occupied yearly by Ospreys. Maybe the same one each year. Don't know for sure. It too, becomes a ritual; something to look forward to. As I leave Merritt, heading north, still about 10 miles away from the telephone pole, I start thinking about whether the osprey will be in the nest, and whether there will be any chicks. I was excited to find this family on one of my trips.

Osprey with 22 inch Rainbow Trout

While on the subject of raptors with their catches, I am reminded of a flyfishing trip I took to Lake Chopaka in north central Washington State, just along the Canadian border. Chopaka is a wonderful flyfishing only lake far off the beaten path. I had been fishing for several hours, not having much luck when I noticed an Osprey circling the lake with a good sized rainbow trout clutched in his talons. What a showoff. But, as if to "rub it in", he then lands on a rock not 30 feet from me. I suppose he thought that would discourage me. But no. I got several good photos and eventually a few fish.