Ospreys are fishermen. The name osprey comes from Latin and means “bone breaker”. This is a good way to describe how they catch fish. Ospreys, sometimes called fish hawks, fly to up to 30 stories above the water, dive quickly from these heights, and then pull up and plunge feet first to capture a fish in its strong talons. Their unusual feet have a reversible outer toe that allows them to grasp with two toes in front and two behind. Barbs (small hooks) on the soles of the birds' feet help them grip slippery fish. An osprey can carry a fish weighing 1 ½ pounds, up to half of its body weight!
Ospreys are so good at fishing that they catch a fish in about 1 in 4 tries in part because of their amazing eyesight. Once a fish is caught ospreys turn the fish around in their talons so that it is head first for aerodynamics as they fly. They then perch on a branch or pole to eat their delicious meal of fish.
-Sue Morrison
Picture and information from: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/id
Information from Tideland Treasures by Todd Ballantine
Ospreys are so good at fishing that they catch a fish in about 1 in 4 tries in part because of their amazing eyesight. Once a fish is caught ospreys turn the fish around in their talons so that it is head first for aerodynamics as they fly. They then perch on a branch or pole to eat their delicious meal of fish.
-Sue Morrison
Picture and information from: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/id
Information from Tideland Treasures by Todd Ballantine
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