Ospreys

Ospreys

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OSPREYS : $200.00USD - yearly FEED THEM : $20.00USD - monthly

One of the largest birds of prey in North America. The Osprey eats amost exclusively fish. It is one of the more widespread birds in the world, found on all continents except Antarctica.

Cool Facts:
The Osprey readily builds its nest on man-made structures, such as telephone poles, channel markers, duck blinds and nest platforms designed especially for it. Such platforms have become an important tool in reastablishing Ospreys in areas where they have disappeared. In some areas nests are placed almost exclusively on artificial structures. Osprey eggs do not hatch all at once, but instead the first chick hatches out up to 5 days before the last one. The older chick dominates its younger siblings, and can monopolize the food brought by the parents if the food is abundant, little aggression is seen amongst the chicks, but if food is limited, the younger chicks often starve. The Osprey is a fish eating specialist, with live fish accounting for about 99% of its diet. Barbed pads on the soles of its feet help it grip slippery fish. When an Osprey takes a large fish to its nest, it carries the fish headfirst to make it as aerodynamic as possible.

Habitat:
Breeds in variety of habitats with shallow water and large fish, including boreal forest ponds, desert salt-flat lagoons, temperate lakes and tropical coasts. Winters along large bodies of water containing fish.

Food:
Fish

Nesting:
Large nest of sticks, lined with bark, sod, grasses, vines and sometimes plastic bags.

Behavior:
Dives feet first into water to grab fish from near surface. Often hovers over water before dive.

Conservation:
Osprey numbers declined drastically in 1950-1970's from pesticide poisoning and eggshell thinning. After the ban of DDT, populations increased rapidly. Still listed as endangered or threatened in some states, especially inland states where populations were small or extirpated after the pesticide years.