As an Environmental Scientist, I am inclined to accept the importance of all living beings and their roles in nature. But there are a few groups of animals that are closer to my heart, and that make me experience an extreme sense of fascination: The birds of prey. As a child I would ecstatically sit in front of the TV to watch animal documentaries. I would get even more excited every time anything related to raptors was showing. I remember checking out every single book pertaining to raptors from the school’s library, for weeks at a time. I was even called ‘Cernicalo’ at times, by my classmates. ‘Cernicalo’ is the Spanish word for Kestrel. I would like to think that it was because of my interest in birds of prey and not because of my profile (LOL!). Either way it did give me a sense of pride and belonging. This fascination is hard to explain but it has stayed strong within me for over three decades.
I have seen first hand and handled raptors like Peregrine Falcons, American Kestrels, Variable Hawks, Harris’ Hawks, Black-Chested Buzzard Eagles, Crested Caracaras and others. And every time I have the chance to immortalize one of these in a photograph, I do so with excitement. But there is no other species of bird of prey that I have had the chance to photograph more often than the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Even though it is one of the most common raptors in the planet and are quite common in urban settings, I always get excited when I spot one. In fact a few days back I watched one for several minutes while it dove into a lake over and over again. I do not think that it was attempting to catch fish, but instead it was bathing itself. Every time it took off from the water, it shook off the water from its feathers in mid flight. A very nice spectacle, which totally took me to a different level of existence (at least for a few minutes…). And yes, I do have a tendency to loose myself in thought.
Every time I am near a body of water, I am always in the look out for them. When I hear their cheeps and yewks (their calls) I can’t help it but smile as I know that they are near. They could be perched observing their surroundings or eating a tasty fish or just flying around looking for a meal or a nesting site. The fact that they are present and are hard to miss makes me wonder how come most people do not see them!
I know people that have a deep passion towards Ospreys and I totally understand their reasons for this. Besides their physical beauty, there are other reasons to appreciate these birds. They are survivors. Vastly reduced in numbers due to the heavy use of DDT back in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the population has rebounded since then. We can not deny that there is a certain degree of romanticism about this success story. Just like the phoenix bird being reborn from its ashes, the Osprey came back from an uncertain fate.
If you ever find yourself near a lake or the ocean, look up and wait for them. Chances are that you will see an Osprey engaging in its natural behaviors. They are a nice complement to the whole picture. When you look towards the horizon you may see gulls, pelicans, egrets, herons, and ibis, which share habitats with the Osprey. All are part of a perfect system that feeds them and protects them. Also you never know when an Osprey will put up an unforgettable performance. Perhaps diving into the water for fish or fending off intruders?

Posted on September 14, 2022 01:27 PM by alexsalcedo