After hunting for driftwood all day, a weary couple was in the right place at the right time. Noticing a young osprey struggling in the water at the marina, they leaped into action. They used a long-handled fishing net to lift the baby osprey out of the water. Carefully maneuvering the boat, they placed the bird on the boardwalk.
Videos by InspireMore
After ensuring he seemed to be recovering, they left to dock the boat. They returned to the boardwalk in their golf cart to check on the baby osprey. While there, a local woman and her daughter stated they had also been watching him. The pair took the bird to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida for a quick check.
Although they live on a predominantly fish diet, osprey cannot swim. When they fly over water and spot a fish, they dive, leading with their feet. Once they grab the fish, they resurface and take flight with their catch. Occasionally, an osprey can drown by trying to catch a fish too large to lift.
Ospreys mate for life and return to the same nest year after year. In the rescue video, you can hear the parents of the baby osprey screeching in the background. Fledglings stay with their parents for several months after learning to fly. During that period, they hone their fishing abilities.
Young birds typically leave their parents during or after their first migration, although they don’t mate for three or four seasons. Males select nesting sites and perform elaborate “sky dances” to attract a female. Osprey nests are large, often five feet across.
Once the Conservancy of SWFL clears the rescued baby osprey, it will be returned to reunite with its parents.
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