OSPREYS 145 



a migrant. Dr. Avery observed a good many about Perdido 

 Bay in September, 1892, and saw a number of nests in pines 

 and cypresses on Soldier Creek. Outsell, in 1911, found the 

 birds fairly common in the same region, and saw many nests 

 about the lakes near Orange Beach, I saw a few of the birds, 

 in October, 1908, at Bon Secour, and a few in May, 1911, and 

 March, 1912, fishing in Mississippi Sound; and several also, 

 on Dauphin and Petit Bois Islands, in July, 1913. Single birds 

 were seen at Brewton, October 8, 1908; Chuckvee Bay, May 

 12, 1911, and July 11, 1913 ; Orange Beach, January 24, 1912 • 

 and on the Tensaw River, near Stockton, June 2, 1914. 

 McCormack records the species at Leighton only twice, once 

 in 1887, when an individual remained about a pond for a week, 

 and again October 4, 1892. He states, further, that the bird 

 is said to be tolerably common along the Tennessee River, one 

 having been killed at Florence, April 17, 1893. Golsan has 

 observed it twice about a millpond near Autaugaville, on June 

 21, 1911, and March 31, 1912. Dr. Avery mentions having 

 seen it only a few times at Greensboro. 



General habits. — The osprey is more gregarious than most 

 of the other hawks, migrating in flocks and nesting frequently 

 in colonies. It is a mild-mannered and inoffensive bird, never 

 attacking other birds except in defense of its nest, and even 

 sometimes permitting the purple grackle to build its nest and 

 rear its young among the crevices of its own domicile. 



It is very regular in its migrations, appearing and depart- 

 ing usually at a given station on almost the same day, year 

 after year. At Gardiner Island, New York, where is located 

 the largest known colony, it is reported to arrive March 20 

 and depart September 20. Since it winters on the coast of 

 Alabama no migration dates are available. 



The nests of the fish hawk are bulky affairs, often 6 feet 

 or more in diameter and 4 or 5 feet high, composed of large 

 sticks, bunches of seaweed, cornstalks, pieces of sod, drift- 

 wood, rubbish of various kinds, and bleached bones and skulls 

 of mammals. They are placed on trees or rocks and some- 

 times on the ground. 



The osprey secures its food by plunging into the water with 

 great rapidity from a moderate height; grasping its prey in 

 its talons it makes off to a convenient spot to devour it. 



