Osprey!

There has been lots of action on the Osprey this past week - I was lucky enough to get a few pictures of them. We heard a bunch of calling and they occasionally perched on the platform but none have started nesting. Unfortunately, its getting a bit late in the year for a pair to nest but it certainly is a good sign for next year!

2 Osprey - the one on the left has a fish!

Still circling

Osprey - probably a female based on the markings on the chest

Osprey Tower!!

Check it out - a little over a week ago now, the center put up an osprey nesting platform. I helped out and took a lot of pictures while it was going up. I even got to learn a couple new tools :) Eventually a web cam will be put up. Now all we have to do is cross our fingers that osprey show up!!

Me pitching in - attaching an anchor the climbers can use

The volunteers and staff hard at work!

There she goes!

At the base of the tower

 

 

 

Wildlife staff and the finished project!

Soaring with Fidel

I have been a major reading kick lately. In part because I've had a lot on my mind the past couple weeks. It also helps that I just got a bunch of books from Barnes and Noble for cheap! I had a bunch of gift cards and coupons so I got 6 books for a total $5 from my pocket. One of the ones I bought was called Soaring with Fidel. This book combines my love of travel and nature as the author goes on a journey from Cape May to Cuba and beyond following Osprey.

The book focused more on the traveling with osprey as the background. In that regard it was slightly disappointing (although I did still learn a few tidbits). What made me jealous was how lucky the author was. He was able to take decent chunks of time away from work and had a friend bankroll the trips. Many of the people he encountered along the were big birders and have had a large influence on osprey research. That said, I would love to be able to take a trip like his (yeah, I have the travel itch again!). But hey, if I can't travel I guess reading about someones trip will have to do for the time being.