By Susan Campbell
Very large birds flying high in the sky tend to get people’s attention — even if they’re not birdwatchers. Here in Eastern North Carolina, we have several species that can be readily seen soaring high in the sky, whether along our beaches or farther inland over marshlands or farm fields. One of the biggest is the “fish hawk,” or as it is known officially, the osprey.
Although ospreys can sometimes be confused with eagles, their appearance is really not that similar. Indeed, both large species can be found in wet habitat, but that is where the similarity ends. Even at a great distance, their flight profiles are very different. Eagles have large, broad wings that are held flat while soaring. Ospreys have long, more narrow wings that will always be crooked at the wrist and, as a result of lower wing loading, must flap more often than eagles. While ospreys do have a degree of pale feathering on their heads, they have a dark eye line, and their head and bill are nowhere as massive as that of an eagle. Furthermore, they have a dark tail and pale under-wing linings, which are quite obvious when viewed from below.
As you may have already guessed, these birds eat live fish: either saltwater or freshwater species. A meal can be literally anything the bird can carry. Ospreys will either watch for prey from a high perch or fly slowly looking for fish close to the water’s surface. They can also hover for short periods as they zero in on a potential meal. Only two other birds, the hummingbird and the kingfisher, are capable of this specialized behavior. Osprey actually dive into the water to grab the fish they are after. And yes, their flight style was the inspiration for the famous (infamous?) Marine Corps aircraft of the same name.
Not only are these birds conspicuous in flight, but their nests are likely to get your attention as well. They are huge, stick-constructed affairs built on a vertical surface of some kind in the open and over water. Man-made platforms can be erected for ospreys, but there are plenty of structures they will use in coastal areas, such as channel markers, pilings or communication towers. Of course, they will also take advantage of large dead or dying trees, setting up housekeeping in the topmost branches. Females will return to the same nest year after year if they successfully fledge young in that location. Each season they will add more material, creating a woven mass of large sticks, several feet across. And given the fact that ospreys live decades, their nests can become massive affairs.
There are a number of osprey nests readily visible from main roads as you travel around the region. Just east of Columbia (Tyrell County) there is a large nest in an old pine snag along U.S. Highway 264. Farther along, look for the nest platform on the edge of the Pamlico Sound as you cross over the Alligator River Bridge. In Wilmington, there has long been a nest at the end of Wrightsville Avenue in Wrightsville Beach, high on the cell tower there.
These creations are what look to be a huge pile of sticks, often with an adult osprey or two on top. If you get lucky at this time of the year, you may glimpse a fuzzy white chick peering over the edge. Both adults will be busy raising their family for the next few months. Before too much longer they will wander south, separately, to Central or South America for the winter. Although there are a few ospreys along our southernmost coastline during the cooler months, they are likely migrants from farther north.
The eastern third of our state is a terrific location for fish eaters of all kinds. If a large powerful bird with M-shaped wings catches your eye or you hear a loud chirping from on high, it may well be an osprey. EB
Susan Campbell would love to receive your wildlife sightings and photos. She can be contacted at susan@ncaves.com.