Osprey, One of the Largest Local Birds of Prey
Ospreys strike and kill more efficiently than most other predators. Over 80% of their attempts result in the capture of a prey. In fact, according to a study by J.M. French, “Ospreys are capable of capturing two fish, one in each foot, on a single dive.”
The osprey captured in the photo above snatched a small fish a few days ago. “It’s a bit late in the year to have an Osprey hanging around Arcata, but this one seems to have developed a taste for smelt,” tweeted the photographer Alan Peterson who is President and Cinematographer at Redwood Planet Media.
For more of his local wildlife photos, like Redwood Planet’s Facebook page or follow their Twitter feed.
We’d enjoy seeing some of your bird photos in the comment section if you have an image you’d like to share.
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Bald Eagle along Ave of the Giants
So fierce!
Damn! That thing rocks. Never seen one in Humboldt tho.
Your wildlife photos are AMAZING!!!! love your shots of birds!!!! Keep ’em coming! Birder from 2002 0n !!!!
Beautiful photo’s
Thank you for posting this link. I think I had an instant addiction to the site.
Me, too!
Thanks Kym! Nature all around me, and yet I often don’t really understand the amazing creatures that abound. what an impressive bird!!
Marsh Hawk sorting itself out after crashing into a birdfeeder and failing to catch a Blue Jay.
(Outside of Fortuna)
Apparently, this bird is as graceful as I am…
Beautiful!
Not very clear but took this a month or so ago I was walking back from my sons parent teacher meeting at Dows Prairie caught sight of it looked like a red tail I wanted a better shot but didn’t want it to fly off
Great camera capture of an amazing aerial acrobat. Much appreciation for posting this magnificent photo of an awesome raptor.
Such amazing beauty! Thanks for including these wildlife stories in your news Kym!
(It’s one of my favorite parts. These aren’t the stories that bring in a large number of readers but…I love them.)
Your wildlife stories inspire me. Thanks again for your high quality journalism.
Huge hawk near the airport
Yes ive got pics of that one too, super beautiful creature!
Yet another benefit of volunteering to walk shelter dogs!
OMG what an amazing closeup shot!
I really enjoy seeing those Sparrow Hawks out by Ferndale! I know they are small but they are fierce, Cool little birds.
Thanks for the reminder that not all news is bad… one of my most memorable paraglider flights at Elk Mountain (Clear Lake) was when a red tail spotted a thermal for me and started circling as I was sinking out. We flew together on opposite sides of the thermal from 3500 to 7100 feet before he (I think it was a male) took off for other places. I had plenty of witnesses on launch that also enjoyed it.
What a cool experience!
Pretty big smelt that bird has
Seems about average. Are you thinking of night smelt or whitebait? They’re small. We have surf smelt, topsmelt, jacksmelt which are about the size shown. Where was this shot taken? I mean, what dock or whatever. Fun to catch and tasty. Maybe someone will get pics of an osprey trying to haul out a large salmon or steelhead; that would be a rodeo!
Seen this bird this morning in my neighbors window…
hilarious!
refreshing focus
You’re really giving us the bird! Or, avian abuse. Did I win a prize?
Just a little pessimistic humor! The prize is the smile on you’re face!