Memories from the Summer

photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

Fortunate to have Osprey that nest close to home that can be visited when my time is short. Always look forward to their return in late spring…once the rivers begin to flow and the ice is off the many ponds throughout the city. They are late to arrive…simply because their main diet consists of fish and require open water.
Osprey mate for life and all but impossible to tell if it’s always the same pair returning. Other than by size with the female being larger she will have marking on her breast…that I refer to as a necklace, which only makes sense to me. What you’re looking at would be the male…with a very white breast.

Once they return the task of collecting and adding new branches and sticks to the existing nest begins. Will say that some nests have become quite large…almost big enough for Eagles to use.
On a side-note…Eagles are one of their only predators the other would be a Great Horned Owl.
The female is usually the one that does all of the stick arranging…this continues throughout the summer and even after the chicks are born.

Well won’t be seeing Osprey anytime soon…just nice to revisit memories from the summer.

Catch of the Day

photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

Well it doesn’t get much fresher than this…Mama Osprey returns with a Fresh Catch of the Day.
With three hungry mouths to feed this was more like a mid-morning snack I would say.

Seems to be an abundance of Gold Fish available in nearby ponds this year…almost every visit to this urban nest sight seems to have them on the menu.

All three youngsters are now up and flying and the adults continue to provide meals…this will go on till the young know how to hunt for themselves.

Nice of Mrs. Osprey to show off the Catch of the Day.

Back to Normal

photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

You may have noticed there has been no recent bird photos coming your way for the last while.
This was all do to my involvement in the World Police Fire Games 2023 being held in Winnipeg.
The largest event Winnipeg has ever seen with over 8,000 athletes, coaches, spouses and families.
The Games which ran from July 28 – Aug 6 is now over.

Since life is now back to normal it was time to check on Osprey…finding that two of the chicks have fledged in my absence.
The young still return to the nest to be feed…this will go on till they learn to hunt for themselves.

Mrs. Osprey must have just made a quick stop at the pond to grab a little snack for the three hungry kids.