With My Wand

Wiki says: "The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), sometimes known as the sea hawk, fish eagle, or fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and 180 cm (71 in) across the wings. It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts, with a black eye patch and wings. In 1994, the osprey was declared the provincial bird of Nova Scotia, Canada.

"The Osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica, although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant.

"As its other common name suggests, the Osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish. It possesses specialised physical characteristics and exhibits unique behaviour to assist in hunting and catching prey. As a result of these unique characteristics, it has been given its own taxonomic genus, Pandion and family, Pandionidae. Four subspecies are usually recognized, one of which has recently been given full species status. Despite its propensity to nest near water, the Osprey is not classed as a sea-eagle."

I add: The Osprey is very common in the American Northwest and its nests are distinctive and easy to find because the Osprey likes to nest at the top of bald trees and also the top of tall poles and such erected by us for our own purposes. Sometimes they return again and again and the nests are built higher and higher over time. When on a vacation into the Canadian Rockies, going up to Jasper and then over and back down on the west side, it was not long before I started seeing Osprey nests in British Columbia as well.

I live now on the bluff above Willamette Falls on the Willamette River. The most common large bird in our area is the Turkey Vulture, seen daily circling and riding the drafts above the river and the hills both sides. The next most common I believe is the Osprey. However, we see Bald Eagles too.

With My Wand

If I could, I would
turn you into your freedom,
soaring like ospreys.
I am willing now,
willing to gift you with lift
like the running cat,
or the hart mid-leap.

I would craze the glass, shatter
the bonds that hold you,
by grace release you
from the gravity of all
the old illusions.

August 18, 2010 10:59 PM