2006 Rescue and Release

"Ozzie"

This is Ozzie the Osprey was found by a Nesbit resident in his driveway late at night. MWR volunteer Kelly Jacobs rescued him at midnight and All Animal Hospital opened up to examine him immediately.

Ospreys are known to be high strung, but this one was not - which was an indication of injury. The exam was quite thorough. X-Rays and manual exams were used to check Ozzie for a number of possible injuries. The blood that was on the feathers of his keel might have been from dinner as MWR and All Animal Hospital did not find any injury that was bleeding. One of the photos on the left show his dilated pupils - indicating a concussion. Another shows the examination of Ozzie's mouth for injury. In that photo the eyelids have covered in their protective silvery membrane. Another photo shows his 6' wing span on the examining table.

Part of Ozzie's rehabilitation included learning to fish in MWR's "swimming pool".

It was determined that Ozzie broke his neck. This caused him to initially loose his appetite; as he healed he came to demand five dozen minnows a day!

The Osprey - also known as Fish Hawk - is unique among raptors because they dine almost exclusively on live fish, often catching its meals by hovering over the water at an altitude of 50 to 200 feet, then diving feet first into the water to grab its prey.

Osprey wing joints are specialized to withstand 40-50 mph dives into water by “double jointing” upward, which make them able to lift vertically from the water. Each Osprey foot has a reversible front toe, as well as barbs (called spicules), which help it hold onto a slippery fish in flight. Normally, an Osprey will aerodynamically position a fish headfirst in its talons before it returns to the nest, and adult Ospreys are capable of carrying fish that equal their own weight.

Ospreys have unique thin, slit-like nostrils that close as it dives into water to catch fish and a silvery 3rd eyelid that protects the eye but still allows it to see. Adult female Ospreys are larger than males, weighing 2 to 4.5 pounds. Wingspans range up to 6', with an overall body length of about 2' and they can fly at speeds up to 40 mph.

Like Bald Eagles, Ospreys often reuse old nests, adding new material to them each season, and they prefer nests near water, especially in large trees, but will also nest on artificial platforms. Their nests have been known to contain hula hoops, rag dolls, and toy boats!

Ospreys three years or older usually mate for life, and their spring courtship begins a five-month period when they raise their young. If the food is scarce, the oldest chick is the most likely to survive as it will outcompete its siblings, and may even push a sibling out of the nest to gain an advantage. The female adult usually migrates first, (from the U.S. to Argentina) while the male adult remains behind to help the young with meals. The male will migrate about the same time as the young, which is a few weeks after the mother, depending on the chicks' development.

Ospreys can be found on every continent except for Antarctica, and they look the same all over the world. While migrating, Ospreys will usually travel during the day time, only occasionally traveling by night. Ozzie must have bumped into something and injured his neck, but we will never know.

It took three weeks for Ozzie's neck to heal sufficiently to fly again. Once he was healthy, he was ready to be released. Ozzie was released at Lake Arkabutla in late October - and he probably left for Argentina two weeks later!