Haw River

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By Osprey Webinar Reminder!

“Hello!”, says the fledgling osprey. “Have you signed up yet for Doc Ellen’s Osprey Webinar this coming Tuesday? Please join me and my kin and Doc as we explore my family and our neighbors at Jordan Lake!”

Please register for Ospreys: Agile Fishers and Devoted Parents on Jul 27, 2021 7:00 PM EDT at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1264741154085713164

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Webinars Made Easy®

By Study in Molt Patterns

Jordan Lake. A study this morning in the process of molting in birds. To molt means the bird is changing out damaged and old feathers for a brand new set. All birds do this – in several different patterns. It just so happens that both the bald eagle (1st photo) and the Broad-winged hawk (2nd photo) do what is known as a sequential molt. They molt out the same section of flight feathers on each wing at the same time. Note that on both birds on each wing there are sets of feathers that are sticking out on the trailing edge with a matching set on the other wing. Not all birds do a sequential molt, it really depends upon the species. In this case it also helps me to know that the bald eagle is two-years-old. The Broad-winged hawk is an adult. The molt patterns do make them both look rather raggedy, doesn’t it! Oh and did you see the fish the eagle is carrying?

By Osprey Webinar!

Join Doc Ellen as she explores the Ospreys and their neighbors at Jordan Lake. Learn interesting facts about the osprey, a unique bird species in many ways, and how to observe them.

To register for Ospreys: Agile Fishers and Devoted Parents on Jul 27, 2021 7:00 PM EDT at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1264741154085713164
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Brought to you by GoToWebinar®Webinars Made Easy®

By Uh Oh and its First Thing in the Morning

Jordan Lake, Haw River 16 minutes after the sun rose … I was tracking a male osprey as he came in over the dam and almost disappeared down into the shadows of the riprap and the sudden glare of the sun. I watched the osprey flare and snatch his fish and then the quiet morning exploded in osprey shrieks and great blue heron gronks. A large light grey shadow was closing in on the osprey. I don’t know if the heron had had an eye on the same fish as the osprey or that the heron took exception to the osprey disturbing his morning fishing. The osprey fled the river with his fish and out over the dam and the heron grumbled his way back to the riprap shoreline.