The Amazing Osprey

     The osprey is certainly one of the most intriguing and observable raptors around.  They are a Darwinian dream bird, evolved exclusively to hunt fish, with specialized eyes, talons, feathers.  They are able to thrive in almost any environment all over the world.  Sometimes called "fish hawk" or "fish eagle" for its preferred  and basically only food source, the birds have prospered in recent years in Colorado with the numerous ponds, lakes and reservoirs that exist and have been created all over the state, not to mention an extensive river system.  Locally, the birds have taken especially well to man-made nesting platforms as if they were part of the natural habitat.  If we build them, they will come. They have popped up all over the Boulder area, anywhere near a body of water, on farms, public utility lands and even in the middle of the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont. And, they are almost always occupied from April through the summer, even when they are relatively close to each other.
     I recently stopped by the Legion park overlook to check out the Osprey nest there and was pleasantly surprised to find out I had been mistaken in my previous visit (and blogpost).  Then, I had observed three bodies on the eastern nest and a fourth bird fly up to and perch on the more central platform.  I much too quickly assumed that the last bird was just stopping for a break and actually "belonged" to the other nest. As I checked out the area this time, I immediately saw there were two heads on that eastern nest, without much white, probably juveniles, correlating with that first visit.  However, as I scanned left to the water and the other platform, I was stunned to see three more heads poking out of the nest there, realizing I had indeed been wrong before.  As I continued my scan west I spotted two more flying over the water. The Osprey's wings are narrow and slightly pointed, in between a hawk and falcon, and have distinct flying style as they pass over the water searching for fish below.
     So, there are two full families and at least seven osprey between the two nests.  I wonder what would happen if they built a third platform down there as well.  There is actually another platform fairly closeby at the back of Walden Ponds, not to mention many north and east of town and I might need to get out and look at some more of them.
     Another great area to spot Osprey is actually along I-70 between Glenwood Springs and Fruita.  If you are driving that way in the late spring through summer, keep your eyes peeled.  There are a lot of ponds along the way, great fishing spots along the Colorado River and numerous platforms visible from the highway.  Also, especially earlier in the summer, it can be a great section for Bald Eagles as well, because of the same habitat and food source reason.