“ABACO’S GOT TALONS”: THE OSPREY

The magnificent Osprey Pandion haliaetus is one of the world’s most successful raptors and can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

On Abaco the Osprey is a permanent breeding resident, and while certainly not an ‘every day bird’, the chances of seeing one are reasonable. They are fairly often seen flying over the bay at Delphi, or out on the Marls. A pair recently nested at Sandy Point close to Nancy’s restaurant.

There are few more exhilarating sights in the world of birds than an osprey swooping from a great height into the sea, emerging with a large fish held characteristically ‘fore and aft’ in its talons, and flying into the distance with heavy wing-beats. This wonderful close-up by wildlife photographer PHIL LANOUE shows an osprey that has actually managed to grab dinner for two…

This bird looks as if it is poised to dive onto some hapless fish

 10 PANDION POINTS TO PONDER

• Ospreys are also known as sea hawks, fish hawks or fish eagles. They are almost exclusively fish-eating
• A mature adult’s wingspan may reach 6 feet
• They are the only members of their taxonomic family, genus and species
• Ospreys & owls are the only raptors with reversible outer toes to grasp prey firmly
• They can carry fish weighing more than 4 lbs
• They dive into water feet first to grab its prey; their nostrils can close up to keep out water
• Osprey-watch.org is a global site for mapping osprey nest locations / logging nesting observations
• A New Jersey group has designed the optimum artificial nest platform, now an accepted standard
• Ospreys usually mate for life
• Osprey populations in many areas have been affected by pesticides and by egg trophy-hunters

PUTTING THE ‘PREY’ INTO ‘OSPREY’

A utility post makes a perfect perch for a bonefish snack

CHECK OUT THE TALON…

The impressive wingspan of an Abaco osprey

An osprey far out on the Marls. I managed to get some distance shots of it despite having a fishing rod in my hand…

Osprey, by John James Audubon

The Osprey is a prolific symbol in national, cultural and sporting themes, and has been depicted on Bahamas stamps. And quite right too.

Wm Shakespeare Coriolanus

I think he [Coriolanus] will be to Rome
As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it
By sovereignty of nature… 

Credits: Jim Todd (1, 3), Tom Sheley (2), Phil Lanoue (4), Gareth Rasberry / Wiki (5), Danny Sauvageau (6, 8), Woody Bracey (7), Craig Nash (9), RH (Marls pics) – thanks for all image use permissions