THE OSPREY
The osprey sat on her perch, high atop a utility pole, scanning the ground below. Her three hungry chicks had been waiting for her to return from the river with food.
These predatory birds, along with bald eagles, were almost driven to extinction by the chemical, DDT. After banning the use of this toxic killer, both species are now no longer endangered and have made amazing comebacks, as evident by the numbers of chicks surviving into adulthood.
Dotting the rural countryside near our home, are nesting platforms atop wooden telephone poles. The ospreys’ nests are large, made up of twigs and assorted debris from the ground. Occasionally you will see green vegetation, even small trees, growing from the nest, an unusual sight to behold.
The osprey is a majestic bird in flight, soaring like an eagle through the bright blue sky. Once sorely missed, this proud bird has returned to Ontario in numbers not previously seen, proving humans and nature can work together to achieve the same goals.
WILLIAM STANLEY
