296 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



with sharp, strong, horny papillse, evident adaptations for holding slippery 

 fish. 



Distribution. — North America, from Hudson's Bay and Alaska south 

 to the West Indies and northern South America, breeds throughout its 

 North American range. 



In Michigan the Fish Hawk or Osprey is generally distributed, but 

 apparently nowhere abundant. It arrives from the south soon after the ice 

 breaks up, usually by the middle of March, although in the northern part 

 of the state it appears much later. Unlike most other fish-eating birds, 

 it does not tarry with us until ice forms, but begins to move southward 

 in August or September and is rarely seen in the state after the first of 

 October. It was reported as last seen at Sault Ste. Marie September 14, 

 and at Greenville, September 18. It is by no means confined to the shores 

 of the Great Lakes, but frequents the larger inland lakes during the summer 

 and may appear on any small pond or stream during migration. 



Along the middle Atlantic coast this bird sometimes nests in what might 

 almost be called communities, a score or more of nests being found within 

 a radius of a mile or two ; but in Michigan the nest is seldom seen and we 

 have never known of two occupied nests in the same immediate vicinity. 

 The nest, at least in Michigan, is almost invariably placed on a tree and at 

 a considerable height, and is occupied year after year by the same birds. 

 In other places, however, the bird frequently nests on cliffs, rocks, low banks, 

 or even nearly level ground, as for example, on Gardner's Island and Shelter 

 Island in Long Island Sound, and at various points along the New England 

 coast. 



The eggs are usually three, occasionally only two, and rarely four. They 

 are very variable in shape, size and color; usually heavily spotted with 

 brown and pinkish red on a creamy white ground, but sometimes uniform 

 reddish brown. They average 2.44 by 1.77 inches. But a single brood is 

 reared in a season, but if the eggs are removed from the nest the birds 

 soon lay again. Major Bendire states that he believes the period of in- 

 cubation to be about 28 days, although usually given as 21. 



The Fish Hawk feeds entirely upon fish, for which it poises, or hovers 

 and plunges, almost exactly as does the Kingfisher. It should be noted, 

 however, that while the Kingfisher catches its prey with its bill, the Fish 

 Hawk (like all other birds of prey) uses only its feet. For this purpose 

 the structure of the feet, claws and soles is admirably adapted as already 

 mentioned. In addition it may be said that the claws are rounded below 

 as well as above, not ridged beneath as in most birds of prey. This may be 

 of no particular advantage in clutching the fish originally, but undoubtedly 

 enables the b!rd to withdraw the claws readily if it becomes necessary. 

 Possibly this fact sometimes saves the bird's life, when through any error 

 in judgment it strikes a fish too large to be landed. In Kumlien and 

 Hollister's Birds of Wisconsin we find the statement that "A specimen 

 was found washed ashore on Lake Koshkonong [Wis.], in June, 1898, with 

 both feet firmly embedded in the back of a very large carp; the fish had 

 ])roved too large for the hawk and he had weakened in the struggle and 

 drowned." 



The fish commonly sought by the Fish Hawk in our waters are of little 

 economic value, and even were the birds much more abundant they could 

 not justly be called harmful. They are powerful and pictui-esque, which 

 adds much to the interest of the shore in summer, and they should be 



