OSPREY
(pandion haliaetus)
Persecuted to extinction in Britain by 1917, the comeback
of the Osprey started in 1959 when a pair returned and bred
successfully at Loch Garten in Scotland. A migratory bird
which winters in Africa. Now each year about 110 pairs
return.
The Osprey is a specialist fish-eater which will plunge
into the water from about 30ft. Ospreys' feet are
specifically adapted to catch fish - they have long, sharp,
very curved talons and the undersides of the feet are
covered in tiny spikes. Ospreys are also able to turn their
outer toes to the rear, so giving them two opposing pairs
of talons.
Compared to a body weight of up to 4.51bs, the Osprey has
very large wings with a span of almost 6ft. These it uses
to lift both itself and its prey - both soaking wet - from
the water's surface, hanging in mid-air after a few strong
wing-beats to shed water with a characteristic shake of its
body, before flying off to feed.
FACT
FILE:
LENGTH:
55 - 58cms (21 - 23ins)WINGSPAN:
145-170cms (57-70ins)WEIGHT:
1.2 - 2kg (21bs 8oz - 451bs 8z)HABITAT:
Coasts and near lany lake or river which is free from
disturbance and where fishing is possible. Nests on trees
and artificial platforms.
Photo courtesy of NASA / Kennedy Space Centre