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Thread: Do you speak Osprey?

  1. #1
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    Default Do you speak Osprey?




    Clearly, this says, "What are doing in the middle of my river?!"

    However, as I was shooting Osprey today, I became more curious about two very conspicuous behaviors. So, do you speak Osprey?

    1. After diving, they will ascend to about 30-50ft in the air and "vibrate" their wings and tail feathers. I assume that this is to shake all of the water off?

    2. They spend a lot of time "hovering" approx 80-100 feet over a particular area of the water sometimes followed by a dive, sometimes not. Is this to get a better look at what's happening below?

    Colin

  2. #2
    Connie Mier
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    Good questions and I would be interested in hearing what the experts have to say. My best guess is that the hovering is hunting mode. I see them shake and I would think that is to shake off the water which is doing nothing but adding weight. I have seen them also come down to the water following a feeding and dip their feet into the water, seemingly to wash them. I didn't realize this from photos, but I read that they dive with feet and head first, very acrobatic.

    I would imagine the amount of hovering or soaring is largely dependent on what is going on in the water; tides and temperatures affect fishes.

  3. #3
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    I am pretty sure the shaking is to get rid of water. Whenever I see them hovering it is when they are hunting and looking for a strike.

  4. #4
    Jeff Wear
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    #1 is water shake ,terns do it and so do skimmers
    #2 is hunting if there is water they are hunting

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