OSPREY (FISH HAWK)
SR

Several years ago, the osprey was prevalent in the area of the Historic Triangle. Today, few are seen. The blame for their disappearance is generally placed at the door of harmful insecticides washed into the waters and ingested by fish. Since fish comprise all the osprey’s food, the same poison is taken into the large bird's body in an unbroken state. The end result of this chain is found in the eggs deposited by the female bird. They are often quite brittle and fragile and many times do not produce young birds.

The osprey, or fish hawk as it is better known, is a handsome bird some two feet long with a wingspread up to seventy-two inches. Dark brown above and snow white on head, neck and breast, it is easy to recognize.

The flying fisherman moves slowly through the sky, keeping a sharp lookout below for fishes swimming slightly under the surface of the water. Once its prey is seen, the osprey folds its wings and drops with amazing speed to strike with hooked talons. If the fish is larger than the bird, the hawk may be pulled under and drowned before it can disengage itself.

Used year after year, the nest is constructed of coarse, dead sticks, broken off by the birds in flight, and seaweed picked from the ground. Very often the nest will measure four feet in diameter.

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