I saw an osprey do the strangest thing the other day. I was driving from the log yard to the pole yard and I saw one of the osprey go into an aggressive dive. Located between the two yards is a canal. I naturally assumed that the osprey was going after a fish in the canal. I drove closer and pulled over to get some shots of the action.
Osprey wheeling around
It was an excellent chance to shoot the osprey. Lately they have been sitting on the eggs and hanging out at the tower. Not a lot of opportunity to get any interesting pictures.
The osprey on approach.
As I started taking pictures, the osprey wheeled around to come in for another swoop. With his sights set on target he banked for the dive.
Gettin’ his dive on!
Then, the osprey did something unexpected! Instead of diving into the canal the osprey dove into an open area. It was fast and low, beautiful to watch. Osprey are fish eaters and to my knowledge they don’t catch rodents. So what was he doing?
Coming in low and fast, but for what!
Up close and personal!
Then, he did the osprey snatch. The osprey grabbed a stringy piece of cedar bark. Bark, why bark? He flew about ten feet and dropped the bark. It all seemed quite purposeful.
The snatch and fly! The osprey with the bark in his talons.
Then the osprey circle back around and headed out.
Coming around again.
He did manage to give me a dirty look as he did his fly by.
Gettin’ the stink eye. I suppose that’s better than the other end.
I’m left with the question, what was the osprey doing? Was he looking for material for the nest? I don’t think so, because they haven’t worked on the nest for weeks and the eggs have been laid. Did he think the bark was an animal? I doubt it and I think they only eat fish. Was he practicing or playing? Maybe, why wouldn’t a well fed osprey engage in a little fun.
Do any of you good folks have any ideas as to what the osprey was doing? I would love to hear your theory.
THE FORESTER ARTIST 
No idea, but here you see crows doing strange things as well. They adjust to the circumstances.
I’ve seen them throw a nut on the road and wait for a car to drive over it and crack it for them! 🙂
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Smart birds!
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Next time they will take à picture of you taking a picture of them.
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Hmmm…..I wonder what they call their blog? So I can see my picture.
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Maybe just a little target practice. Great story in words and pictures.
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Thank you Linda!
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Maybe needed to practice his moves because sitting on nest gave em stiff wings… Or had a ton of energy and was sent out to play catch the bark to get rid of some energy… Either way cool experience and photos!!!!
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This sounds like a theory from a mom with a bunch of energetic kids! 🙂
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Maybe he noticed you noticing him and wanted to further trigger your curiosity… :D… Or maybe he recognizes the camera but is shy…
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Then he is a very clever osprey!
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you are talking about my nest
and tookd a lot of shoots
this week on my last
when i think, to finished my mess
Did you ask if i am out of season
unseasoned Osprey
So i Tell you neighbor
There is my house
and i am just doing my best
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Bravo Osprey Bravo! My sincere apologies. 😉
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I have no clue what the Osprey was doing, but you took some amazing pictures while the Osprey was doing it! Of course, since I’m curious by nature I’d really like to know what the Osprey was doing! lol
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I know what you mean. If I ever figure it out I’ll let you know, but don’t hold your breath. 🙂
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Lol…no turning blue for this girl 🙂 but it would be cool if you ever did figure it out!
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I will keep my eye on them. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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I’d say what the Osprey is doing is a fine job of messing with you. Nice series of shots.
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Indeed, he was testing the old question of how do you keep a turkey in suspense!
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Beautiful photos! The first one that details the color of its wingspan is gorgeous!
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Thank you Lesley!
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Target practise? Amazing photographs…
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That’s what I’m thinking.
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You really gets some interesting bird experiences and photos. I see magpies the most (and the smaller ones)..
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It was pure luck. I was at the right place at the right time and the osprey stayed around long enough to photograph it. Today I saw a very large white bird soaring very high up, but by the time I could get my camera out it was gone. I didn’t recognize it, so I really wanted to get a good picture. So not all my experiences make it to a picture, but I do try to be ready at a moment’s notice.
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You are so observant! Maybe the Osprey knew you were watching and was showing off?…
Fantastic photos – thank you :))
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A show off! Who knew, I never thought of that!
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Intriguing story and great shots to illustrate it. We have ospreys in the UK too, IN Scotland and Northern England, around 300 pairs. Many breeding pairs are fairly well studied, being protected by constant volunteer guarding and observation, including on webcams. From what I have read Ospreys do sometimes take the odd rodent or rabbit, so perhaps the one you saw thought he was swooping on a snack and dropped it when he realised it wasn’t edible?
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Perhaps you are on to something. I’ve never seen these osprey take anything other than fish. I always think of these birds having such sharp eyesight, but maybe this one doesn’t.
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I think they do have keen eyes, but perhaps the inexperience of land creatures as opposed to fish in water may have led him to make a mistake – just a thought. Your suggestion of just having fun has as much chance of being right. We have much to learn about these birds.
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