Animals and plants that adapt to us tend to be winners, while those who are unable to adapt fall into those dreaded categories of "threatened" or "endangered".
Obviously many species move beyond those two classifications and into the realm of extinction.
So, while it may jab at me a little to see a woodstork or a sandhill crane feeding in a suburban neighborhood drainage ditch, it also gives me hope for their continued existence.
They are the adapters.
This osprey pair is demonstrating extreme adaptability to human activity. The photo was taken down around the Crystal River/ Homosassa area from a bank parking lot next to US-19. The video tells the whole story.
17 comments:
A nesting pair of osprey turned up at the top of a power pole on a big lake in Missouri a few years back. Much ado was made about the fact. I gather they haven't nested here for a long time.
I think they are adapting, but I think some of our conservation efforts are making a difference too.
Captcha word: scrot
cool. was that platform intalled to encourage nesting? [we saw a lot of shallow boxes set on pilings along the edge of a lake in northern idaho, meant for local waterfowl.]
I had the same question as Kathy A. I'm trying to imagine what other purpose a big disc on top of a pole would have...
My bird is sitting on my head right now. I played the video and when the birds chirped she answered! I played it again and she did the same thing! She got so excited another bird was around!
Patti
That's an awesome video!
I love, love, love, LOVE ospreys! They're such cool birds. They do adapt, and they also maintain their fishing territories. I love to hear a splash in the bay and look to see an osprey flying off with a foot-long fish. What a wonderful life they have. Lee County (Fort Myers and Sanibel) has placed the tall nesting platforms all over the place for these birds.
Are you close enough to the water to build a nesting platform and expect an osprey to use it?
I forgot to mention that I've also seen an osprey nest in a utility dish (like in your video). The one I saw was on Captiva Island. I think ospreys like the drainage holes in the bottom. I'll be this happens a lot.
That is SUCH a cool find! You blew my mind when you backed off the zoom. In spite of reading your description of the area, I hadn't expected the pole to be in such a busy area. Animals are just amazing! I've already shown it to some of my students and they were blown away as well. :)
I agree with Kimberlee, when you pulled back and showed the full context of the nest location, wow, a real surprise. I didn't expect to see such a busy environment. A great example of adaptation.
Most excellent video!Love to watch the osppreys around here,and on Sanibel Island
Good Lord. Here I thought that might have been the sound of the surf...
so what is the dish for? Certainly not for ospreys! And do they interfere with whatever it's supposed to receive?
Stop him....now....before....
he.puns.again.
Great video: I love the pan out at the end. I was just talking to someone about that concept, ... and it looks like the pole is outfitted for an osprey nest. Good to know that we as humans are adapting in some ways too.
Pablo,
They are wonderfully common here, but I thought this case was a good example of just how far we and the ospreys have come.
Kathy A,
It has to be. Just a larger version of nesting platforms like you describe.
Sayre,
I think it was installed for that purpose. Reminds me of those old 80's satellite dishes.
Patti,
That is so funny to me. What kind of bird?
Susan,
I love them too. Really love to watch them fish.
Kimberlee and Robin,
I like the effect too. A still pic would never have captured the osprey cries and human auto hubub.
Chris and Jon,
Thanks!
And what a great osprey area you have. Lots of them down there.
Julie,
Without really checking this, I'll go out on a limb and say it actually is for the birds. I can't see any other purpose for it and it keeps them up and above the wires where a misplaced wing could result in a shock.
Chef,
I can't help myself.
Robert,
It takes us a while, but eventually we catch on.
FC, have you seen the project under way at Maria Sanchez Lake? My opinion is that they will destroy it as habitat, I hope I'm wrong. Pics are on my blog.
How cool is that?! Great video.
We have peregrine falcons nesting in DC -- and I know they are in many other major US cities. They came back from the edge, didn't they? Thank God for farsighted conservationists and biologists.
Hi FC,
A cockatiel. Her name is Chelsea. She won't sit on my shoulder, only my head. She also likes to sit on the keyboard and chase the curser around.
I just sent an email asking about the Chassahowitzka River and other sites. I loved your pictures!!
Patti
Tsiya,
My first apartment was a firetrap attic apartment on the west shore of MS lake. I'll check out your post.
Miz S,
Thanks. And I agree about those farsighted folks.
Patti,
Sounds like a neat bird buddy!
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