Ospreys don’t have roofs over their nests, so no shade. Excessive heat is dangerous to all animals. Osprey parents, especially mom, give up their own comfort in order to actually make shade for their chicks. The parent will stand with wings outspread for incredibly long minutes to make sure their chicks are cool. Here are three examples of mom osprey as she becomes a life sustaining shade.
Jordan Lake. Osprey parents will stand up in their nest and make a sunshade with their wings when it is very hot. They help protect their chicks from the sun this way. Both parents will do this activity. In this case it is mom Osprey and in 2nd part of video she is feeding her chicks.
Jordan Lake. Hard Luck Osprey Nest. You may remember that last year the parents at this nest lost their offspring to a bald eagle and then they lost the tree and their nest in a storm. This year the parents, at a new tree and nest, have a chick that’s gotten to the stage of wing wapping and it’s thinking hard about flying in a few weeks!
Jordan Lake. Doc Ellen‘s Natural Minute brought to you through the generosity of Captain Doug and his expert helmsmanship. We came upon an Osprey family. Mom Osprey to the left and her three chicks to the right. Note that they are starting to exercise their wings … but are still unsteady with their bodies. Flight is their goal!
Before an osprey can fledge, can fly, it must develop flight muscles.
The chicks are taking turns “wing wapping”.
Wings are stretched, the air is beaten hard, the soul gets concentrated.
One day soon the leap into flight will come.
photo taken June 28, 2015
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