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Osprey; Fish Hawk. 



The Osprey is probably the most widely distributed of all 

 birds ; it is found at the proper season in nearly every coun- 

 try on the globe. It is a very inoffensive bird^, living ex- 

 clusively upon a fish diet. While essentially a salt water 

 bird it is often found about the larger lakes, especially 

 during migrations. 



Ospreys are strongly protected both by law and public 

 sentiment in most places where they are common and breed 

 but as soon as they wander from their regular abiding 

 places they put their lives in jeopardy for uneducated farm- 

 ers consider all large birds as "hen-hawks" and certain 

 classes of hunters take a shot at everything of size that 

 comes within range. 



The same birds return to the same breeding grounds, and 

 to the same nests, each year. The nests are normally placed 

 among the upper branches of dead trees ; they are large 

 structures when first built and, as they are used and added 

 to each succeeding year, they soon become very bulky; I 

 have seen a number that would more than fill an ordinary 

 tip-cart. Osprey eggs are usually regarded as the most 

 beautifully marked of all hawks, — a rich, creamy ground 

 color, covered with bright blotches of reddish-brown and 

 umber. 



It is very interesting to watch Ospreys at their fishing 

 grounds, — to see them sailing smoothly along on motionless 

 pinions or wending their way homeward with a steady flap- 

 ping, bearing their catch to waiting, little Ospreys. When 

 on the lookout for fish, they usually sweep along at an ele- 

 vation of perhaps one hundred feet above water. As soon 

 as one is sighted in a favorable position, the Osprey hovers 

 for a few moments, with wings rapidly beating the air and, 

 if his quarry does not take alarm, quickly folds his wings 



