Osprey bringing fish home for dinner

Just outside the Regatta Condominiums on Yaquina Bay is a set of pilings that support a Coast Guard operated fog horn as well as a new construction project.  This new project is an Osprey nest comprised of sticks and vegetation.   The nest being built on the Bay is likely going to be the home of an offspring of a pair of Ospreys located 1 mile South in South Beach.  The parents, mated for life, have come back to their nest for at least 6 years running, making small improvements each year.

It’s a perfect place for a nest for these birds also known as “fish eagle” or “fish hawk”.  They spot their fish prey from a height of  32 to 130 feet, hover then dive feet first into the water. The pilings this pair selected for their “construction project” are about 120 feet above the water.

Ospreys are very particular about visitors in their neighborhoods.  Many times this writer has been thoroughly scolded be Ospreys flying back to the nest with a fish clasped in their talons.  This has occurred near coastal lakes and on the beaches.  On you next visit to the Oregon Coast I would be happy to share a close up look at the nest building project and recommend other bird viewing locations that abound here on the Coast.

A few seconds later, the water burst up and here was the diving male facing what must have been his mate in a courtship dance.   The birds seemed to stand on the top of the water on their feet and proceeded to flap their wings at each other for several seconds. Then, without entering the water again they both literally ran along the surface of the water with the female leading and the male in close pursuit.   I watched until they were out of sight and marveled at the beauty of the performance provided by these frequently observed birds.

Common Loon

Sightings like this are one of the many great reasons to live on the Oregon Coast.  On your next visit I would be happy to point out several areas that would bring you regular sightings like this.