Osprey

This picture was taken few weeks back when the ospreys were still in the park. The adults have gone south, first the males, followed by the females and then soon after the juveniles make their way.  The young head south on their own, somewhere in their beautiful brain is all the information they need to reach their destination. The Osprey mate for life, but they do not travel together or head to the same place during fall migration, the next time they will get together is during spring when they are back in the mountains at their nest. The young will stay south for couple of winters and on their return will look for a mate to start their own family. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey

Things were getting bit tense between the these two siblings, only a week or two away from being on their own. It was now everyone for themselves, they were waiting for the parent to bring back food, trying to push each other off the nest while they waited. The one remaining on the nest would then have the best chance at getting the fish their parent was bring back.

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey

Bringing home the dinner, the male osprey bringing a fish to the nest. At this nest there are least two mouths to feed, the adult and at least one nestling that I have seen. There might be more nestlings, but I have yet to see them. As they get bigger it will be easier to tell how big the family is this year.

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey and the Sun

I could have stayed home when the valley was full of smoke but I decided to take it as a challenge for my photography addiction.  It was day two for the heavy smoke covering the  Bow Valley from the historic wildfires in Washington State. I was looking at the Osprey nest and thinking  how to incorporate the sun in the picture. I looked at the Sun's angle to the Osprey's nest and to where I needed to stand. Moving into position I soon realised the trees were in my way. But the Sun was moving through the sky and soon I had my opening, just needed the Osprey to stay front of the nest. I got the pictures I envisioned, but instead of leaving afterward, I decided to wait. It paid of, getting even a better picture when the female took to the air. 

Until next moment, 

Amar

Osprey

The male bring back dinner for the family, that includes the adult female and three nestlings. Waited half and hour, staying ready to take the picture on arrival of the adult male. The fish is small, with four mouths to feed, lot more of this fish will have to be caught.

Until next moment.

Amar

Osprey

I was sitting by the shore of a lake, watching this Osprey drag its talons through the water as it flew around. I was assuming it was cleaning them.  After few minutes it decided to move on, it flew right over me. Giving me few seconds to get this picture.

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey

We're not too far off when both parent will be catching food for the three chicks. For now one adult stays back to look after the youngs, whiile the other goes fishing. All three chicks look about the same size and as well looking healthy. Which means fishing is good and all three have a chance to fledge later this summer.

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey

A Osprey getting its talons ready to catch a fish, but on this ocassion no fish, just water.

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey Family

Oooooh, sometimes its hard working with wildlife. The light was coming from the right direction, from behind me. The nest was in clear sight and the one adult with the three juveniles were visible as well. The osprey family and I were now waiting for the other adult to bring home the fish. After a short wait the fish was on its way, quickly I got ready, I only had few seconds to get the picture I wanted. I took the pictures just before the adult with the fish landed in the nest, but when I looked at the picture on the computer, I noticed the  fish was in the wrong talon. Back to the drawing board. 


Until next moment, 

Amar

Osprey

The male adult bringing a small fish for the three young mouths and the female adult. The three young ospreys just back of the nest will be able to look after themselves in a week or so and then both parents will be fishing and feeding the ever hungry mouths.

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey

The fish got passed around few times before it was eaten. When one of the adult Osprey brought the fish to the nest, no one was there. Two of the juveniles were nowhere to be seen while the third was perched on a tree about 100 meters away with the second adult. The second adult went to the nest and took the fish and then called out. No one showed up, so it took the fish to the juvenile it was perched with. But the juvenile was not hungry and just flew away. Then the fish was brought back to the nest again where the second adult ate it. I was just standing in the middle of all this, hoping for a bite or two to fall in my mouth.

Until next moment,

Amar

Bringing Home the Fish

Normally the three fledgling would be waitng in the nest when the adult brings the fish, but this afternoon they were out flying. The other parent who was perched on a nearby tree landed on the nest before the arrival of the fish. The waiting adult ended up eating the fish, the fledgling once arrived had to wait little longer for their lunch.

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey

One of the parent brought a fish to the fledgling perched on branch away from the nest. I guess the fledgling was not hungry, it flew away. The parent decided to eat the fish instead, as the sun set in the distance.

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey

It was on the nest looking after its three chicks, when it diecided to go for a fly. Made few large circles around the nest, slowed down its flight to have a look in the water before continuing on. Soon came back to the nest with a small branch.

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey

It arrived to the nest with purpose, with grass like material for the nest. It then mated with its partner. Soon after it took to the air, off to fish or to find a place to rest.

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey Family

Not a good year for this particular Osprey family. The last few years the adults have been able to raise three successful juveniles. But this year it has been a different story. They started out with three, but quickly they were down to two. Just when it looked as if the two remaining would survive, it was down to one. I don't have any scientific theory what happened this year, just anecdotal evidence. Each time I saw the adults bring a fish to the nest, they tended to be smaller compared to last few years and much larger time gap between drops. Each season brings different challenges, each year wildlife tries to adapt and make the most of it.

Until next moment,

Amar

The Kids

This season I spent less time taking pictures at the Osprey nest and when I did I was trying to get images of them in the air. Still have to wait to take good pictures of them catching fish, came close last year, images were bit out of focus. Again the nest I like to visit had three offspring. Few weeks ago I was there as they started to fly, would fly away from the nest for 100 meters or so and fly back.  In the top picture the one in the middle was pumping its wings on the nest but no flying that day. But it looked like it was cheering on its siblings. Then again with the noise it was making, it was probably yelling: “Yo bro, why don’t you use your newly learnt talent to find ma and pa and get them to bring back some fish, we’re
starvin here already!”

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey

I was visiting my friends the Ospreys, one of the adult was sitting on the nest and the other probably fishing. Before I knew it there were two more going through the neighborhood, one with a small fish in its talons. Shortly after that the other adult I was visiting went by with a larger fish. I was not able to take a picture of it flying by, it was between the sun and I, not good for my eyes.  But I saw the direction it was headed, off I went to locate it. We have an agreement, I can take as many pictures I want as long as I don’t ask for a bite. It was a large fish, it had to balance itself few times as the fish kept sliding off the branch. In the attached pictures it’s trying to balance itself using its wings. I thought it may share the fish with its mate. Not this time, it ate the whole fish as I ate my trail mix and took pictures.

Until next moment,

Amar

Ospreys

Over the spring and summer I been frequently visiting a  Ospreys nest. Watching the pair go about their day to day business, while the world around them did the same. Always placing myself safe distance to watch and take pictures. You got to have lot of patience and enjoy your subject to get the right picture. Learning about their habits, in order to be in a better position to tell when one is going to fly to and from the nest.

 While I was watching the nest, on the other side of the river two couples started to fish, not aware of the nest. After about half hour of trying, they decided to move on. Unlike the Ospreys, they had no luck catching fish. As the couples were headed for their car,  I heard a call from the Osprey on the nest. I looked around and saw its mate heading for the nest with a fish in its talons, partially eaten. All within a minute, from the time the one Osprey landed with the fish on the nest. It placed the fish on the top of the nest and moved away from it while getting into a low profile. Giving the space for its mate to hop on the fish and fly away to eat what looked like a Rainbow Trout in peace. What team work.

Until next moment,

Amar

Juvenile Osprey

When I first arrived near the site of the Osprey nest, no one was on the nest. I went about looking for other things to take pictures of. About half hour later I heard the call of an Osprey. Headed toward the nest, on which I saw a Juvenile. Grabbed few pictures while it was on the nest and when it landed to the side of the river to clean up.

Until next moment,

Amar