Victor, Violet and the Third Bird
Nov 27, 2018 12:34:35 #
From my early May 2018 visit to the Osprey nest site in Southern Maryland. Violet had been staying on the nest for a week or so. Victor began delivering headless fish for her consumption then he would perch on a limb high above the nest box. Based on what we had been observing the last several seasons, these were signs that Violet was incubating eggs and Victor was transitioning to the role of provider and protector.
On the morning of May 2nd, I was positioned on a dock, one hundred feet or so from the nest box. Violet eyeballed me, gave her usual "I know that you are there" call then returned to brooding duties. Victor was on his high perch performing guard duty. Violet suddenly stood, looked toward the center of the creek and shrieked a high pitched piercing call. Victor immediately took to wing and headed in the direction that Violet was looking. I spotted their target, another Osprey (Third Bird) flying directly toward the nest box at low level. Victor flew high, did a 180 degree turn, tucked his wings and dove on Third Bird. Victor locked his talons on Third Bird's leg resulting in both tumbling unceremoniously into the creek. They recovered quickly and Victor (on the left in the second image) provided some obviously very opinionated counseling to Third Bird before escorting her out of the area. We think that Third Bird might be an unpaired inexperienced breeder looking to seduce Victor and take over the nest box. Again, Mother Nature (and this addictive obsession with photography) provided an opportunity to be part of an amazing wildlife adventure.
Nikon D500, Nikkor 300mm f4 PF E + 1.4 T.C. Manual Mode, 1/2500 at f6.3, auto ISO on. (camera choose ISO 2000 for talon pix, 1000 for the birds in water) +33 exposure compensation.
On the morning of May 2nd, I was positioned on a dock, one hundred feet or so from the nest box. Violet eyeballed me, gave her usual "I know that you are there" call then returned to brooding duties. Victor was on his high perch performing guard duty. Violet suddenly stood, looked toward the center of the creek and shrieked a high pitched piercing call. Victor immediately took to wing and headed in the direction that Violet was looking. I spotted their target, another Osprey (Third Bird) flying directly toward the nest box at low level. Victor flew high, did a 180 degree turn, tucked his wings and dove on Third Bird. Victor locked his talons on Third Bird's leg resulting in both tumbling unceremoniously into the creek. They recovered quickly and Victor (on the left in the second image) provided some obviously very opinionated counseling to Third Bird before escorting her out of the area. We think that Third Bird might be an unpaired inexperienced breeder looking to seduce Victor and take over the nest box. Again, Mother Nature (and this addictive obsession with photography) provided an opportunity to be part of an amazing wildlife adventure.
Nikon D500, Nikkor 300mm f4 PF E + 1.4 T.C. Manual Mode, 1/2500 at f6.3, auto ISO on. (camera choose ISO 2000 for talon pix, 1000 for the birds in water) +33 exposure compensation.
Nov 27, 2018 17:33:02 #
Nov 28, 2018 10:42:57 #
Sushamilt2
Loc: Southwestern Idaho
Love your story, as well as your captivating images. Thanks for sharing.
Dec 2, 2018 17:11:58 #
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