Magnificent Mexican Osprey

Magnificent Mexican Osprey

   I spent many hours in Huatulco, Mexico waiting for this osprey, who I nicknamed Olly, to take flight. Weighing only 3 to 4 pounds these fabulous flyers have a huge wingspan of  5 to 6 feet. Those incredible wings have been observed to produce speeds of up to 128 km per hour (80miles per hour). Pandion Haliaetus are large carnivorous raptors who feed primarily on fish. They are most commonly therefore found near rivers, lakes, ponds and of course oceanside. They have white bellies, and a white head which showcases their distinctive black stripe surrounding their eyes. With their excellent eyesight they scan the water looking for their next meal. They use aerial attack tactics, diving down from heights of 30-100 feet towards the water and grabbing fish with its curly talons. These birds are more than just beautiful, they are smart! They do their best to orientate their prey in their talons headfirst to ease wind resistance while in flight. Often you may see them flying over the water and dragging their feet in the water. While this may be a failed attempt to catch a fish, it may also be how it cleans its feet after feeding. 

  Ospreys usually roost and sleep in trees. Yet, when females are getting close to the time to lay their eggs they may sleep in the nest. Ospreys are generally monogamous, most often mating for life. Co-parenting, both parents take turns sitting on the eggs. Females lay an average of 3 eggs. The chicks do not always hatch at the same time so sibling chicks can vary slightly in age. Sadly, DDT use in the 1950s threatened ospreys, endangering their populations. DDT affected their reproduction by thinning their eggshells. It has taken decades to significantly increase the osprey population. In some areas their numbers have yet to fully recover. While the oldest wild osprey on record was 30 years old, a typical lifespan for an osprey is 7 to 10 years. Occasionally they can live 20 to 25 years.

  Olly is a creature of habit. I now know a couple of their frequented fishing spots and where they like to perch. Unfortunately, these spots are also all on a very vertical unaccessible rock faced slope along the ocean shoreline. Thank goodness for my 500mm lens. While I was looking at them I felt they were also looking at me. I imagine not much gets past them and their spectacular vision. I am grateful that they allowed me the opportunity to watch their spectacular flight as they soared gracefully along the ocean breeze. I am truly blessed.