7awol Loc: Butler, Pa

Victor delivers a meal to Violet and little Zebulon. This image was made in early July, Zebulon fledged in late August. Osprey are Diurnal Raptors, predatory and carnivorous with sharp talons and hooked bills for grasping. Males are the primary hunters (fisherman?) when Mom is brooding eggs and tending to chicks. Fish are almost always delivered headless. Dad takes his fresh catch to a favorite limb and devours the head (the most nourishing part) before bringing the filets to the nest. It takes a bunch of protien for him to be able to catch enough fish to keep Mom and Baby nourished, so he eats first. I've been fortunate to have been able to watch this pair for five seasons. They pair for life and return to the same nest site every year. Victor (males have all white breast feathers) and Violet (females have dark "necklace" breast feathers) were named when they appeared at a new nest box that my brother installed in a small creek in southern Maryland. Two chicks the first season (Vinny and Vergil) successfully fledged.The second season chicks, Walter and Wilma also fledged successfully. Xenia and Xavier were next (2016), Yolanda and Yoda (2017) and little Zebulon for 2018. There were two eggs in this seasons nest but sadly, one did not hatch. The University of Maryland visits the new chicks shortly after hatching, records their health, sex and bands them. The 2019 chicks will have names beginning with the letter "A". Get it?

Nikon D500, 300mm f4 PF E with 1.4 TC. 1/3000 @ f5.6 ISO 3200

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jak86094

Beautiful picture and very interesting write up. Thanks. 👍

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Excellent.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Fantastic Image---very beautiful!

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Beautiful image.

VTMatwood Loc: Displaced Vermonta in Central New Hampsha

Great shots. We have many Osprey pairs living just down the road from me, and I photograph them at every opportunity. They are awesome birds. Thanks for sharing.

Fotoserj Loc: St calixte Qc Ca

Do they return to the same nest every years

auntmary Loc: Olathe Kansas

Awesome!

Jolly Roger Loc: Dorset. UK

Good shot and interesting narrative.

7awol Loc: Butler, Pa

Yes they do. Victor always returns within a day or two of the Ides of March. He does a bit of housekeeping/remodeling and resting from his long migration. Violet returns about two weeks later...then the fun begins, mating, mating, mating. I’ll post more Victor/Violet images in new topics.

Rathyatra Loc: Southport, United Kingdom

Fotoserj Loc: St calixte Qc Ca

Good, I was told that they use more than one nest in in the same region, I’ve saw a stretch of road in northwest Vermont with a dozen or so nest on a series of pole near lake Champlain I’ll be sure to go back next spring

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Great shot. Everything in focus and sharp and good timing. Just a tad over exposed in that the whites are blown. If you shot in raw perhaps they are recoverable.

VTMatwood Loc: Displaced Vermonta in Central New Hampsha

I live just a couple miles from where you are referring to Fotoserj, and the action in the spring is fantastic. I highly advise spending time there with your camera and a long lens.

Fotoserj Loc: St calixte Qc Ca

They start to arrive around what time, my instinct tell me mid to late april