Fishing Specialists:
The osprey is the only hawk that hunts in water. The scientific name: Pandion Haliatus, “Sea Hawk” refers to Pandion, a legendary king of Attica who had several children who were turned into birds. They are such skilled fishers that at one time, people thought they cast a spell on the fish. In reality an osprey’s narrow, six-foot wing-span, awesome eye sight (they can spot a fish from hundreds of feet in the air) and razor sharp claws provide them with expert fishing equipment.
Osprey hunt for top feeding fish and will only submerge a few feet in the water. They are equipped with a gland at the top of their tail feathers that secretes an oil that they spread on their feathers making them waterproof so that they are not heavy and wet when lifting off with a big fish.
To help seize prey, the osprey’s claws have a reversible outer toe that allows them to seize a fish with two talons in front and two behind. Their claws also have spiky pads (Velcro like) called spicules that help the bird keep a firm grasp on a slippery wet fish. When airborne the osprey turns the fish headfirst reducing air friction as it flies.
Location, Location:
Osprey thrive wherever there are shallow waters and a fresh supply of fish. They build big messy nests close to the water atop trees, telephone poles, abandoned windmills and man-made platforms. They prefer not to have any taller trees in the area since these might provide homes for other birds of prey.
Migrating from South America, the male osprey arrives back on the North Fork first. Often he seeks out the nest he occupied the year before. A few weeks later, the female arrives. She will choose the nesting site she likes best and will mate with the male who occupies that nest. Then the couple will go about improving and enlarging the old nest. There is a report of a nest that was used for 125 years and reached a height of 10 feet.
A Beanie Baby, an arrow, a small ax, a rubber boot, a toy sailboat, a pair of pants and a straw hat along with books and boat rudders have all been spotted in osprey nests along with the usual sticks and native grasses. A story is told of a farmer who hung his jacket on a fence while working. An osprey, swooping down carried the jacket away. The farmer didn’t mind about the jacket, but he did want his gold watch that was in the pocket!
Good Manners:
Although the common name osprey comes from the Latin word Ossifragus which means “bone breaker”, these birds in fact pick the flesh off the bone with their bill or just swallow the fish whole. When they are done they return to the water and splash the surface to clean their feet and feathers.
Friendly Neighbors:
Ospreys allow songbirds to build nests on the lower level of their large nests providing them a secure home and protection from predators. Farmers welcome nesting osprey on their property because they drive out hawks and falcons, thereby protecting poultry.
Success Story:
The osprey population was all but wiped out on Long Island in the 70’s by heavy use of the pesticide DDT. After studying the affects of this dangerous pesticide on wild life, DDT was banned in the USA. Through its own resilience and the efforts of man, the osprey population on the North Fork has rebounded with great success. Their return is once again one of spring’s great pleasures!
The best way to learn about osprey is to go out and watch them in their natural surroundings. Everyone should experience this amazingly resilient and fierce “sea hawk” for him or her self.
To learn more about osprey and other native Eastern Long Island birds please e-mail us at info@northforkaudubon.org.