Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Visiting Osprey

The visiting osprey quickly became conditioned to dinner at 5PM as that is the time I generally throw feed. I am sure it is a female. If she arrives & I am out not ready to throw feed, she scolds from the tree above the feeding area. If I don't immediately respond she makes a flight above me just to demonstrate the she is here & waiting.

Someone made the comment that she should have a subscription to Pond Boss & teach her to cull the right sizes. She is doing a pretty good job for no formal training. She is taking the 4-7" fish. The pond does not have any LMB that would be eating that size forage. Generally out of 5 tries she catches one fish.

I watched Friday as she took a BG & was immediately pursued by a redtail hawk. To get the fish? To drive her away? The hawks have always had a nest not far from the pond. She did leave to consume her dinner somewhere else. She does have a favorite branch on a big pine on NW side of the pond for dinner.

More than once, I have had the ---- scared out of me. I have paused throwing feed & focused on observing something else, when she hits the water 10' away . It is sudden & loud! Last time her back was to me & all I saw was a dark object rising out of the water. What the ?

That is cool!

Last night at 5PM the osprey was in the tree & waiting. On the third try she had a fish & flew off with it. We were joined by a great blue heron. I was surprised that he got within less than 12' of me. The BG were feeding well & I went to get another can full of food, he was gone when I returned. I finally saw him 100' away with a good sized BG in his beaks. He had taken it as I turned my back & left to get food.

To be honest, I don’t fish my pond enough. Would love it if an osprey showed up once in a while!