Every now and again, you get up close and personal with a particularly beautiful bird. As I am rather fond of the birds of prey – each displaying their magnificent talons, strong beak and striking colours – I find myself drawn to taking pictures of them whenever I get a good opportunity.
One of my absolute favourites (if I really had to choose), would have to be the Western Osprey. It’s astonishing white feathers and stark, dark eyes make them look far wiser than they are given credit for.
This bird is diurnal, preferring to dine on fish. It possesses specialised physical characteristics and exhibits unique behaviour to assist in hunting and catching prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and 180 cm (71 in) across the wings. It tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply, and occurs on all continents except Antarctica.
The Western Osprey is a summer migrant, making its appearance all the more worthwhile. I am still quite new in the birding world and I enjoy watching all of the feathery creatures, some more majestic than others, but my heart still skips a beat when I see one of these fierce creatures, hunting for their next meal.
Story by Angie (River Lodge)
2014/01/17
