Take a look at the Smith Mountain Lake State Park Osprey Cam Live! (PS Come back if there is no one home...they'll be back soon)
VIRGINIA MASTER NATURALISTS DIG THIS STUFF!
Go here to learn more about the Virginia Master Naturalist Program
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), sometimes known as the sea hawk, fish eagle or fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and 180 cm (71 in) across the wings. It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts, with a black eye patch and wings.
The Osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant.
As its other common name suggests, the Osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish. It possesses specialised physical characteristics and exhibits unique behaviour to assist in hunting and catching prey. As a result of these unique characteristics, it has been given its own taxonomic genus, Pandion and family, Pandionidae. Four subspecies are usually recognised. Despite its propensity to nest near water, the Osprey is not a sea-eagle. ...more here
I have been lucky enough over the past 2 seasons to be able to photograph this pair at SML and follow them from late March until the end of May. It always provides me with a great day of watching these magnificent birds as they raise their young.
ReplyDeleteThe cam is doing a great job. Let's hope the lightning stays away from it this year.
Roy Evans - Lynchburg
This is AWESOME!!!
ReplyDeleteThe camera went out for many days after some storms went through. It was time for the eggs to hatch. When the camera came back on, the eggs were gone, and no babies. I just wonder what happened. :(
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