Osprey: Olive

This is the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) I'm calling "Olive." She stands guard over her nest every evening. I don't know where Olly goes (see previous post). Ospreys, like other birds of prey, are diurnal feeders so perhaps he is out hunting for fish in the evenings.



I've had to quit going too close to their nest as curious residents have been trying to figure out what I'm viewing through the telescopic lens of my camera. I don't want to do anything that might jeopardize their home.

These images were created from a great distance (about 1/2 mile distant; 805 meters away) and thus Olive is not visible in the great detail that I captured with Olly. I really like "Olive 3," below, regardless of the detail. It was a nice shot this evening. She looks so majestic.

I always think how it is amazing how this species is recovering in North America since the US banned DDT in 1972. DDT is the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.

Ospreys drastic decline in the 1950s and 1960s (along with other birds of prey) was caused by the toxic effects of insecticides (DDT in particular) on reproduction. The pesticide interfered with the bird's calcium metabolism which resulted in thin-shelled, easily broken or infertile eggs.

Unbelievably, DDT is still manufactured and used in other countries (see DDT).



I continue suffering from the torn and bruised and cut foot. . . so I've been less prolific with images, lately. My right foot looks like someone dropped a brick on it. It doesn't feel much better than it looks.