osprey

Tag

By Mom Osprey Fishing

Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River:

Set!

Strike! Note: she has quickly flicked her nictitating membrane over her eye as protection.

Hold on!

Head for Home!

Mom osprey on a successful fishing pass within the riprap.

By Osprey Shake

Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: On a fishing dive, an osprey picks up a lot of water. Water is heavy at 8 pounds per gallon. The osprey is an efficient flyer so once it gains some height above the water, the bird does a shake to throw off the excess water and its weight. I love watching the shake start at the bird’s beak and finally flipping off at the end of its tail – just like a very wet dog. The bright morning light striking the scattering drops makes the osprey a sparkling sunburst.

By Brilliant Brooch

Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: Mom Osprey got herself a fish this morning. She hit the water, grabbed the fish and was gone out over the dam almost before I knew she was there! The glittering sunshine sure made her a brilliant brooch against the river.

By Ospreys have Returned!

Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: Dear Momma Osprey!  Welcome back to your breeding home here at Jordan Lake.  You are always my reliable signal that Spring is just around the bend.  What a tremendous flight you have taken … more than 3000 miles from South America to North Carolina.  I am glad you had the endurance and good winds to get back here again!

By Contamination of Bald Eagles, Ospreys at Jordan Lake

The BALD EAGLES and OSPREYS of Jordan Lake need your HELP! There have been sightings this spring and summer of bald eagles and ospreys with some kind of dark fluids staining their feathers. We are asking for your help in reporting any birds that you observe that are coated or if you see any unusual substances on or in the water of the lake or shoreline. Please contact NC Wildlife Resources Commission at 1 (800) 662-7137 if you sight an injured‬ bird or a dead bald eagle or osprey. Please leave the injured bird alone and do not try to capture it. Any remains must stay in-place. You may also share your concerns with the Army Corps of Engineers at (919-542-4501 x2428) or Doc Ellen via FB messenger or Instagram message. Please include with your notice a location, date, time of day, species of bird and what the bird looked like. Thank you for your help!

By Big Catch!

Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River, Friday, August 7, 2020.  The Haw River within the riprap was full of striped bass.  The ospreys were feasting!  This male osprey made quite a large catch.  To my eye it seemed that there was as much fish as there was bird as the osprey flew past.