Observations & Images
20 February 2007
Nest Building
THE NEIGHBORS
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Observations & Images
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Upon arriving at the Refuge the male Osprey was discovered consuming a large fish. After such a large repast the male usually spends a few hours loafing which is just how he spent most of the afternoon. As sunset neared he became active and began bringing material to the new nest site. |
| Several runs saw him bring various branches and clumps of seaweed to the tree. | |
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He is building a rather haphazard pile of material which can be seen cascading down from where he is perched. He was not observed working at all on the old nest site. |
THE NEIGHBORS |
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| An American Kestrel hunted the area around the trees. | |
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The Kestrel was later seen to have caught a mouse which it ate high atop one of the trees near the Osprey nest. |
| A big day of eating at the Refuge as two very enthusiastic River Otters worked the waters near the Osprey nest catching a great many fish. | |
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The fish would valiantly struggle like the one pictured here but, with a few exceptions, the end was always the same. |
| The Otter technique was to end the struggle as soon as possible by a few violent bites to the head of the fish. | |
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With all resistance gnawed away, the rest of the fish could be eaten at the Otter's leisure. |
| Note the massive forepaw. The Otters routinely used their forepaws to assist them in eating their catch. | |
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The fish, always well chewed, went down headfirst till finally the tail disappeared into that hungry maw. |
| Some fish were lucky enough to escape like this one which somehow flipped out of the Otter's mouth and made a clean getaway. The possibility exists this fish might have been recaptured since both Otters continued to feed on fish in the area for quite awhile. | |
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A Red-Bellied Woodpecker investigates a dead tree. |
| A Wood Stork flying along at sunset. | |