Icey Osprey in Northern Oregon

This morning in Silverton my nephew found an Osprey standing on a frozen sidewalk unable to open its ice-covered wings. He placed it in a warm dark shed, and is providing water and some chunks of fish flesh while the ice melts. Do the golden-colored feathers on an Osprey's nape, and maybe the white-tipped coverts, indicate that this is an immature bird? (photos at http://empids.blogspot.com/ ).

The above was sent in to Oregon Birders On -line (OBOL) list today.

I am happy that someone is helping the poor osprey. We had a red tail hawk in Lebanon, not as bad as that but pretty bad out in our field tried to help with food IE cat caught vole and offered to Hawk, hope he ate it as he is really low flying and barely clearing the ground

D

Hi Tiger, I can't tell you if it is an immature but am hoping the Osprey is doing better. I am glad someone is taking care of it. Have you heard anything else about how the bird is doing?

The Osprey rescue story has moved ahead to the final chapter, or at least the last one we are likely ever to read. After trying and failing to reach a wildlife rehab facility in Salem, my nephews decided to release the bird today. The Osprey was quite strong and active, but was not eating the fish chunks provided or drinking the water. They decided to let it go while it still appeared to be completely healthy.

At about 2:30 p.m. today they took the Osprey to the bank of the Willamette River in Salem, and when it was free, the bird immediately launched, circled up, shook itself, and was last seen flying strongly southward above the river. Birders in Albany, Corvallis, Eugene and parts in between might be on the lookout.

My nephew has a non-birding blog, but he has placed some photos of the release on his blog, which can be seen at http://martyschrock.com/wordpress/.

The above was in my mailbox this morning. Seems we have a happy ending here!

That's great tiger! The pics are wonderful!

Thanks for the update Tiger...the Osprey looked very strong in it's flight and I am very hopeful for the bird. It was wonderful that your nephew took the time to care for this awesome creature.

dellrose, I don't personally know the folks involved with this osprey rescue. These were posts made to a birders list I am on.

Sorry I made things appear differently. I've discovered I cannot write *above* a message I've copied and pasted here, but only below it.

A happy ending anyway Tiger! ;0)

Probably because it didn't realise what it was - for future reference (if anyone finds another grounded Osprey!) best to give a whole fish that it will recognise as such more readily

Resin