This new forum is intended to help us look at the world though the eyes of the ospreys. I was moved, as I am sure many others were too, by the BBC Autumnwatch programme last week to consider what Simon King said about the lessons we could learn from the fact that these birds have to be protected in Europe, having been rescued and re-introduced, for example in the UK, where they have to be guarded or kept secret, compared to Senegal, where they happily co-exist with the village fishermen and their families. We protect the birds because of our desire to preserve their natural beauty and to maintain and foster our love of nature and the countryside, wheras in West Africa the birds are part of the landscape, community and even part of the fishing economy.
Simon said, how we marvel at the migration journey that they make, which is of course true. But he felt that from an osprey's perspective, fishing off the coast of Senegal, or flying across an English town or meadow, is just part of their world. Our theory of 'magnetic mapping' that we think they may have, is just an enhanced add-on, probably to their vision, that in us humans has not been as well developed. (That's my theory, not his.)
The following website which I take no credit for, is new to me and will be the same for most others I suspect, is truly fantastic and one of the best I have seen, if not the best. There are pictures, a slideshow and even videos which are all of the highest quality, in both content and technically. It is called ARKive and I have given the link to the osprey page.
I once asked if ospreys build nests in Africa, because they do not need them to raise a family? Find out if they do.
How do they roost in the desert, in what, on what?
About raising a family - wrong - what about these nice mangroves, as a nursery? With fish swimming about in the water below.
I won't tease you any more, just enjoy........
http://www.arkive.org/osprey/pandion-haliaetus/
N.B. The above website is covered by copyright.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies
JSB, thanks. A great read and another fabulous picture.
There are now some selected clips from the BBC from the Autumnwatch programme on the website. There's a four minute clip of the ospreys fishing in Senegal, which is one of three which were in the original programme. Also the other clips on the website are interesting, especially the compilation one where the presenters let their hair down and show a zany side to their personas. Kate Humble is the president of the RSPB. I think the videos should play OK outside the UK, here's hoping.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/autumnwatch/
I am not sure how long these will be available to watch.
Thanks JSB. Just had a look and it says, for me, content not working. I think it is my location but will try again later
Thanks again
Same for me, jsb, the content won't play. Oh well, I appreciate the thought anyway. =O)
Thanks also for the Osprey story, jsb. Very good reading!
G & C, you would have thought for 'educational' material the restrictions would be lifted. Too bad!
jsb said: G & C, you would have thought for 'educational' material the restrictions would be lifted. Too bad!
JSB, you would have thought so:( We sometimes get BBC programmes on other channels here, just need to be able to spot them. Thanks again
Keith, one of the Ospreywatch 2009 Volunteers, tells us what it was like to be at the ringing of the birds.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/rich_media/ospreys_slideshow_feature.shtml
jsb said: Audio slideshow: Cumbrian Ospreys Keith, one of the Ospreywatch 2009 Volunteers, tells us what it was like to be at the ringing of the birds. http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/rich_media/ospreys_slideshow_feature.shtml
Hi jsb. Really enjoyed the link, thanks for posting it.
I followed the Bassenthwaite nest on Flickr this year. At the start of the season they promised a blog a day (including photo), and they were true to their word. Even during the slacker periods they still posted with news about the area, stories, poems and identification quizzes. The site can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ospreywatch/ and I can highly recommend it to all you osprey addicts out there! It is well worth bookmarking (although the website will presumably not fire up again until March).
Thanks jsb and Sandy. I was also following the Bassenthwaite ospreys and visited the nest site in July where I saw the female sitting on the edge of the nest at Dodd Wood. Also saw the chicks live on the big screen at Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre.
FAB