Growing in an Osprey's garden #4

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It became a bit cloudy for a while. Harmony and Big Hook could see something in the sky that I couldn't pick out. Dad went onto the low nest branch after he delivered the fish. None of them was perturbed by whatever it was that I couldn't see.

This was my cue to get outa there.

Geez,I hope its not illegal to watch ospreys !!!! Oh Margaret I do love your photos and Iam soo glad I do take time to smell the roses,whats an osprey, how very sad for them !! Have a great day,its spose to be 65 today ,Possibly a motorcycle ride ,mostlikely!! the 14th of November ,we are having great weather.sounds like next week could be spitting snow,as it should be !!! Iam goin for a ride.

Enjoy the ride, Tamara.

Wonderful shots Margaret!

Lovely pictures Margaret. Even before a book, can you give talks at the local community forum? 'What's an osprey' needs to be corrected for adults.

I would think your local Audubon members would love to feature your beautiful photos and the continuing story at one or more of their meetings. I just attended one on owls and woodpeckers that was fantastic.

Just the thought of Harmony being old enough to fledge is sad to me and now you're saying this chick could soon leave the nest. I do hope that "slower pace" turns out to be true. We'd all miss this wonderful adventure.

Gorgeous photos once again.

Oh, even after the chick has fledged, it will be around for several months, initially using the nest and then the nest branches more exclusively, before heading off to a completely independent life.

There was something very disturbing on the local news yesterday evening. Since July, a few of the Swan River dolphins have been found dead. Two were caught in fishing lines, but post mortem examination of those two, in addition to the others that have been found dead, have revealed a compromised immune system and high levels of dieldrin and DDT. Both of these organochlorines had been phased out since the 1960's and had been totally banned since 1987. They are persistent chemicals, but it is a huge concern that they have now started manifesting themselves in what has been a healthy dolphin population, possibly pointing towards some illegal use in the Swan River catchment area.

Not only is it a concern for the dolphins and other marine life, but also for the local ospreys, who of course live on fish caught in the river. It was the use of DDT that decimated the osprey population in parts of the northern hemisphere by thinning the egg shells to the point that they would break under the weight of the parent bird during incubation.

I will try to find out more during the week. Here's a link to the chemicals referred to. http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/publications/chemicals/scheduled-waste/ocpfactsheet4.html

Being an "ambassador" for the osprey's or the river in general might be your calling Margaret. That is so sad and disheartening to hear about the dolphins.

I get those blank looks too when I talk about the birds. Especially the ones that are not well known.

That is sad to hear Margaret.

what a terrible thing to happen,ddt affected most birds that sameway,I think about what ddt had done,everytime I see large birds.The population has most definitly has rebounded since it has been banned.TG.

That is very sad to hear about the dolphins. I hate to think of how this will hurt the marine life and the birds that feed on them, not to mention the animals that feed on them. People can be so thoughtless.

I have been out of town, Mags, sorry I missed your birthday...I hope it was wonderful! The pictures are just lovely. I hate to hear about the dolphins deaths. I am hopeful that the deaths and the DDT are just a fluke and no more will succumb.

Birthday hugs coming your way!

No-one seems to know the source of the contamination and there's a chance it will never be located, as it is probably filtering into the river remotely, rather than by direct entry into the river system. I'll post updates when something is available, but it would be truly tragic for anything to happen to the several osprey families that nest and fish along the Swan.

Thanks for the flappy birthday wishes, Kim.

Head over here for the continuing story. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1056583/