Osprey

The Osprey is a very distinctive fish-hawk, formerly classified with other hawks but now placed in a separate family of its own. They are still nicknamed seahawks. Along coastlines, lakes, and rivers almost worldwide, the Osprey is often seen flying over the water, hovering, and then plunging feet-first to catch fish in its talons. Unable to dive to more than about three feet below the water's surface, Ospreys gravitate toward shallow fishing grounds. After a successful strike, the bird rises heavily from the water and flies away, carrying the fish head-forward with its feet. Bald Eagles sometimes chase Ospreys and force them to drop their catch. Osprey nests are usually built on snags, treetops, or crotches between large branches and trunks, on cliff sides, or human-built platforms. After generations of adding to the nest year after year, Ospreys can end up with nests 10–13 feet deep and 3–6 feet in diameter. The clutch size is from 1 to 4 eggs but the first born hatchlings, and therefore the strongest, are destined to survive. The male brings fish to the female as the females incubates the eggs and continues as she feeds the hatchlings. Osprey incubation periods are from 36 to 42 days and the total nesting period is about 50 to 55 days. The female osprey remains with young most of time at first, sheltering them from sun and rain. As the young mature, she also hunts for fish along with the male. The first flight of the juveniles (fledging) averages about 51-54 days after hatching. The fledglings may stay with the nest for several weeks as they learn to hunt for themselves. (Audubon Field Guide and The Cornell Lab of Ornithology)