WildView™

September 10, 2017

Osprey Catch of the Day

- as seen by -

Julie Larsen

---

Raucous cries carry across the pristine pine forest at the water’s edge. I look up and see that it is standing room only in the osprey nest at the top of a very tall tree. Two adult osprey and their three fledglings are practicing take offs and landings from Googins Island at Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Maine.

The raptor parents swoop toward the sea calling for their brood to follow. After much fuss, the young trio soars from the nest, one-by-one, focusing on some fish that are unseen by me.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) are extraordinary at fishing. With wings bent, they seem to drop from the sky into the waters below, but ascend seconds later, with curved talons tucked tightly around their catch of the day.

Nikon D5, Nikkor 200-500 Lens

---