Fighting Osprey
I recently came across this old image of mine and had to share the story with everyone. RTPI President Twan Leenders and I captured this injured female Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) on June 28, 2010 after she was reported by concerned citizens as unable to fly on Bridgeport, Connecticut’s Pleasure Beach near her nest site. She had dislocated her left shoulder when being battered by a tornadic supercell thunderstorm a couple days earlier. The storm moved over the barrier beach after a tornado had touched down in the city minutes earlier. She was successfully rehabilitated and later...
Read MoreOsprey Subspecies
This late fall Osprey is a bird of a rare subspecies we do not get to enjoy passing by too often! I recently took this record shot of what looks like one of the 12 Presidential MV-22 from the U.S. Marines Corps HMX-1 squadron, used as support aircraft, flying unfortunately all too far away for a good look. Happy Veterans Day, and thanks to all for their service. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreTowering Osprey
Can you identify this photo’s distant subject? That Osprey and its mate have built a nest in what looks like an optical illusion or mind maze, but in reality is a massive radio tower. It is a wonderful thing that the species’ comeback has been so successful in the last several decades that they are now relegated to using any bare structure they can find. I certainly would worry about it up there during a thunderstorm, for a few reasons, but having an abundant breeding population is one of those good problems. Even if these individual birds are not successful this season you can...
Read MoreOsprey Pole
Kind of like Snowy Owls in the winter, one could spend their summer wandering around and photographing Ospreys on all types of poles – the classic utility, the specialized power structure, the flag, the lamp or streetlight as seen here…hey, whether it’s for a meal or a nap, these poles are darn comfy! Maybe we are missing out on something…pass the fish, please. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreOsprey Nest Building
Here’s a pair of Ospreys hard at work on building their rapidly-growing nest at the Clay Ponds Wildlife Management Area. It won’t be long before we see incubation in this huge, finely-crafted home, but it may have to wait for some cold temperatures and a snowflake or two…
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