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!
raptor
TagOsprey Shake
Jordan Lake. When an osprey goes totally underwater to catch a fish, they also pick up a load of water. In order to quickly lose the weight of the water they do a dog shake. They start the shake at their beak and it twists all the way through their body and flips out at the end of the tail. The osprey is pretty much upside down twisted all the way around in the second photo! Always fun to see.
Osprey Dad has Passed Away
Jordan Lake. The osprey father who broke his wing when he became entangled in the fishing line, has passed away. My thanks to the Rangers who rescued him, to Captain Doug for transporting him, to CLAWS for doing the very best they could with getting him proper medical care and hopes to rehab him. My thoughts about the careless fisherman are dark. I simply ask that we all try to remind each other to pick up your trash and carry it out.
Hershey Supervises His Chicks
Jordan Lake. H&N nest. It was a very cold, windy, gusty, grey morning. That did not stop the bald eagle chicks in the nest from bouncing. Dad Hershey watched one of them get quite into the act of making big wings. Then he decided enough was enough and Hershey bailed out. #BEverettJordanLake #BaldEagle #HersheyBaldEagle #hawriver #jordanlakestatepark
Hope Full Osprey Nest
Jordan Lake. I don’t often name the Osprey nests. But given the history of this nest over the past three days, I picked a name that I know you will understand in a moment. This is the nest where the father osprey caught his wing in the fishing line on Monday. The veterinarian had to amputate part of his wing. He will never fly again. His prognosis is very poor because it’s very difficult to rehab ospreys because of their feeding habits. Keeping in mind that nature is never cruel but she is harsh, let me bring you the hope of the nest. Mom osprey was still early enough in her breeding cycle that she accepted a new male yesterday. So that is why I am hopeful. 1st photo: mom on the lower limb and her new mate up in the tree above her. 2nd photo: mom osprey. 3rd photo: dad osprey. 4th photo: the pair right at the end of their mating. I am hopeful that it works out that the season is not too late for this new pair.
Father Osprey Hurt by Fishing Line
Jordan lake. This photo shows why I hate how careless people are with fishing line. That’s one of the father ospreys at Jordan Lake. His wing is broken. I came upon him while he was still up in the nest trying desperately to get free of fishing line. He snapped his own wing as the line broke and he tumbled to the ground. Three of the state park rangers came to help rescue him. They got the line all cut loose from around his wing. Captain Doug took him over to the rehab facility. The prognosis is not good. I don’t know why people cannot pick up their fishing line. I don’t know why people cannot be that thoughtful. My prayers and meditation for the little guy. Please remind everybody that if you break a line, pick it up, throw it out, properly get rid of it. You can follow the osprey at https://www.facebook.com/ClawsNC/photos/10159773261784920
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