Raising Aussie Osprey #5

We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/931823/#top

The chick is really spreading its wings and lifting high off the nest when exercising. This was taken yesterday afternoon. I wasn't there when the male arrived with a fish, but a fellow observer said the male brought a large fish, still very much alive and flapping and left it for the chick. The male stayed no longer than ten seconds. Aussie was still eating when I got there. Mum watched from up on the right hand branch, periodically being driven to distraction by a pesky Willie Wagtail.

This shot is of the chick in the air, with Mum looking on.




This message was edited Dec 25, 2008 7:38 AM

Mom looks so proud!

He'll be flying anytime now. Beautiful pic Margaret!

Fantastic shot! It's so exciting!

am starting to feel nostalgic Margaret. As always, good shots. Lee

Well, the chick didn't have its first flight on Christmas Day. There was a brief flurry of activity and the female took off, flew around the area a few times and landed a couple of times. I got such brilliant shots of her I decided to store them in the trash can. The chick didn't do any exercise whilst I was observing, just some stretching.

Here's a cropped shot of Aussie, who is now more than two months old.

Wow! Aussie is huge! I cannot believe that we have been watching his progress for two months. Time flies...pardon the pun. LOL

Kim

duckmother, how is Eliza? Lee

She is perfect! Having a wonderful time with her feathered-friends. She let me pick her up yesterday, and give her a Christmas kiss on her head. ;o)

May all of you have a very merry Christmas,
Kim

Beautiful shot Margaret...she is growing much too fast!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Well, I really thought we were going to see Aussie's first flight today, but it didn't happen. There were a couple of bursts of high activity and it was standing on the edge of the nest looking out over the bay. The second time it lifted off the nest it went several feet into the air. I was actually too close to get the nest and the chick in the one frame, which is just as well, because when I viewed the shots later, the horizon was at a 45 degree angle. I was so excited, composition went flying out the window. In this shot, even though still on the nest, the chick was making adult Osprey sounds and shortly after this shot was taken, it flew upwards and remained airborne for several seconds.

I love the visible aerodynamic forces on the wings in this shot

The little darling seems fascinated by its own developing ability to maintain itself airborne

Can you straighten a horizon with Photoshop?

It should be Down Under, not Down Hill. I was so completely absorbed with the chick, I had absolutely no awareness of anything else happening around me. The sky could have fallen in and I wouldn't have known it. Ooow, I just checked. It did!

I'm lost for words...

"I'm lost for words..."

So am I Margaret, I've run out of superlatives. Absolutely stunning shots, and I can almost see your excitement in them :)

ditto Margaret and kniphofia. Lee

Thanks, Knip. It's a fabulous experience - my DH would probably agree that it's a fabulous experience with me being lost for words.

Last shot for tonight. Back there again tomorrow.

Cross posted, Lee. Thanks.

Such wonderful shots! She is amazing. Thanks Margaret!

yes, you can straighten the horizon.

and…

oops…

It's like a toddler taking a few steps each time, soon it will be running! Love the direct face shot! And the rest!

Absolutely awesome Margaret...it really is like seeing a baby take her first steps! What a fantastic experience for all of us...so glad you have documented this and we all get to look over your shoulder...thanks millions!

Ditto to what Delrose said!

Wow, I can just imagine your excitement, wish I could be there and enjoy it with you. But just fantastic, admiring your super shots. what a thrill that must be to see it live. I really love that front shot of Aussie, all bright eyes.

Well, the champagne corks will be popping this evening! She's on the branch and judging by her level of comfort, I'd say she's probably been there before. She was preening, standing on one leg and occasionally stretching, completely at ease. She flew from the branch back down onto the nest twice whilst I was there and another keen observer described her actions well when he said she did it with aplomb.

Thanks to everyone for your very positive comments and for straightening the horizon, Mrs Ed. I knew you could work miracles.

I had a bad focus and variable exposure day, but I had to include this one because of those extraordinary pins. This was when the fledgling came down of the branch the first time.

As you can see, it's perfectly at ease out on the limb.

Checking out the best fishing sites.

That's Mum on the upright branch on the right and Aussie on the left.

She was calling at the time I shot this.

She didn't even cast a sideways glance at the boats passing underneath. The river was incredibly quiet for a Saturday.

A little bit of wing exercise. When I first got to the nest site, I could see the nest was empty and there was a bird on the right hand branch. It was only that the tail was shorter than on the adults that I was able to recognize it as Aussie.

A little bit of interest in a yacht passing by, but nothing like a couple of weeks ago when she would have hit the deck to make herself invisible to these strange white birds with triangular wings.

Such lovely shiny talons

The shadow that comes across the nest early each evening was starting to walk up the trunk.