Cool Facts
The Osprey readily builds its nest on man-made structures, such as telephone poles, channel markers, duck blinds, and nest platforms designed especially for it. Such platforms have become an important tool in reestablishing Ospreys in areas where they had disappeared. In some areas nests are placed almost exclusively on artificial structures.
Osprey eggs do not hatch all at once, but instead the first chick hatches out up to five days before the last one. The older chick dominates its younger siblings, and can monopolize the food brought by the parents. If food is abundant, little aggression is seen amongst the chicks, but if food is limited, the younger chicks often starve.
The Osprey is a fish-eating specialist, with live fish accounting for about 99% of its diet. Barbed pads on the soles of its feet help it grip slippery fish. When an Osprey takes a large fish to its nest, it carries the fish headfirst to make it as aerodynamic as possible.
Sources:
Poole, A. F., R. O. Bierregaard, and M. S. Martell. 2002. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). In
The Birds of North America, No. 683 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
Wikipedia notes that Osprey are also known colloquially as bayhawk, seahawk, fish hawk or fish eagle. I thought this was interesting after coming from the Pacific Northwest and having the Seattle Seahawks in our midst. Funny I never thought about it when I lived there! So would the Seattle Seahawks seem so fearless if they had been the Seattle Osprey instead? Not a chance!
This Osprey nest was found right in the middle of small town America next to a feed store. The Ospreys didn't seem to mind one bit. Nope, not one bit at all. In fact they seemed to flourish in this nest constructed on this "man-made structure".
(This is for Max, Jayden, Lee, Collin, Than, Amanda, Carrie, Brent, & Candy: CDEDBDIs???)
September 30, 2008....
February 2008
September 2008
While this landscaping is nothing like what I am used to in the Pacific Northwest, I can readily find the beauty in it....even the gravel. It took a while to get used to the look of the gravel but no time at all to get used to not having to mow twice a week!!! The landscape we chose is called xeriscaping which means - uses little water. The first year we need to water frequently (daily in the summer) and after that these plants are all draught tolerant. The drip water system is very efficient for conserving on precious water. There are many, many beautiful plants that thrive here in the desert. I will be experimenting with more as I tackle landscaping the backyard. First the drip system will go in and then the plants. I hope to have some citrus trees so we can have fresh fruit much of the year. 
