Mama Osprey and I agree on most things. Like the importance of a safe and comfortable home, loving family, good diet that includes lots of fish, and regular exercise. But I’ve discovered we have one minor disagreement. On dogs. While I love the company of dogs, she doesn’t.
Maybe I should put it this way: Mama Osprey has a preference for a large personal space, and an even larger social space. And dogs are not invited. She allows me to enter her social space, but she allows dogs only in her public space. Defined her way, as the opposite sidewalk when she sits on a lamp-post, and as the other side of the salt marsh when she’s in the nest.
I got a first glimpse of her preferences last year in March when two people walked their dogs on “her side” of the marsh. My theory was confirmed last week.
I found Mama having lunch on a lamp-post at the edge of the park. I walked closer, we exchanged greetings and she continued to eat. I took a few pictures.
Suddenly she stopped eating in the middle of a bite. And stared intently at something behind me on the sidewalk.
I turned around and saw two large dogs running with their owner. They were right behind me, approaching the lamp-post. I stepped aside to let them pass. And when I looked up again the lamp-post was empty. No Mama, no fish. But I saw a small prick far away. It looked like a lunch transport.
It was clear to me the dogs had encroached on Mama Osprey’s social space, and she had decided to finish her meal elsewhere. I walked north to have a clear view of the old palm trunk favored by Mama and her friends. But it was already taken by Papa Stanley.
Papa Stanley observes the drama from the safety of the palm trunk…
I was jus snapping a picture of him when I realized Mama was flying back towards us, in the direction of her nest.
So I turned around and jogged back to the salt marsh. And there she was. Finishing her lunch at the nest.
Peace and quiet. No dogs in his social space. Just old Tiny. That was fine with her. We don’t agree on everything, and that’s just fine with both of us.
We hope your week is going well.
Ps. This post has been edited after publishing when I discovered that Papa Osprey (PO) actually was Mama Osprey.
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
Isn’t nature magnificent?
It is truly magnificent! I’ve always been a “nature person”, but now “see” much more of its wonders after I started taking pictures.
I love your pictures and live vicariously through them. One day, I will take a photo class, but until then, I will continue to post the ugliest pictures in the blogoshere with pride.
Interesting. He must perceive dogs as a threat.
He definitely sees dogs as a threat. Maybe he has had a bad experience, or just doesn’t know they can’t fly 🙂
Long may your interaction with PO continue, it provides such entertaining blogs! 🙂
Happy you enjoy our adventures! I’m hoping Mama Osprey will return from her extended vacation soon so they can start the “nestorations” and get their home in order.
What a majestic looking bird.
He is a handsome bird, and good natured too 🙂
so gorgeous!!! fab foto!
Thanks Cindy! It’s great he doesn’t fly away anymore when I approach ….makes it easier to get good shots 🙂
Love the shot of PO ‘on the approach (or return).’ Nice timing! And as I reflect on PO and his “space” I realize the extent to which I relate. 🙂
I think PO had the same thought I had, to settle on the palm trunk to finish his lunch…but then saw it was already taken. He made me reflect on my “space” too 🙂
How can you take such amazing photos in an even more fascinating environment? (:
I’m very lucky to have all these birds and beautiful nature close by. I appreciate that every day.
Our dogs injured our remaining duck, Zaruma, last night (I still can’t find where they got out of their yard). They don’t attack the peas or guinneafowl but just the geese and ducks (all chooks gone). Alas. Love PO!
Sorry to hear that they got out and attacked Zaruma. PO might have had a bad experience too, or maybe that’s just his bird instinct telling him to stay faraway from dogs.
Can’t say I blame PO. For him dogs are noisy and aggressive. He probably thinks, ‘better to be safe than sorry’. 😉
I think you nailed it, Jackie. When Bumble was younger and we went for walks in the park, we always stayed faraway from the nest, on the opposite side of the marsh. HUGS!
Oh, the look in that first picture! I so love birds 🙂
I love birds too, obviously 🐣🐤🐥🐦 and they do so much “stuff” we can relate to 🙂
Fabulous shots ~ especially the one with both osprey in it, framed by green fronds.
That one was a lucky shot…I was looking at his friend through the viewfinder when PO suddenly appeared in the picture 🙂
Great captures Tiny! You had a nice and clear day I see! 🙂
Thanks H.J. These pics were from last week, but we had a beautiful day today. The wind started hauling just after dark this evening…and it’s supposed to get fairly cool overnight.I hope the birds have winter jackets in their closets for tomorrow 😀
Not many of us can plan lunch dates like this.
That’s true, but PO didn’t have anything for me 😉
I like to eat without distractions so I empathise with Papa Osprey.
He obviously wanted to have a short, peaceful lunch break. He’s already working on rebuilding the nest on his own. I’m on the lookout for Mama Osprey…she should settle into the nest any day now.
As long as he doesn’t hate dogs enough to attack the really little ones. Our neighbor lost their tiny lap dog to a bird of prey a few years ago. 😦
That’s very sad to hear…but unlikely to be an osprey as they only eat fish. I’ve never heard an osprey attack animals on land. PO defends his nest in the air, at the height of the nest, probably because he doesn’t know dogs can’t fly. Otherwise he just moves away.
Oh, yes, definitely not an Osprey. I don’t remember exactly what kind of bird it was. I believe a hawk of some sort. It was heartbreaking. (But one of the dangers of living in the area we do…)
I’ve heard about such sad cases and when we lived up north next to a big park with eagles and hawks, I always kept Bumble (then leaner and smaller) close to me on walks and didn’t let him alone in the backyard so they wouldn’t mistake him for a rabbit.
I was wondering for a few minutes whether PO was going to dive-bomb the poochies. Thankfully he knows discretion is the better part of valor 🙂
Smiling. PO is a gentleman 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous pictures of handsome PO. I guess he figured better safe than sorry when he saw the dogs. He was protecting his lunch from the dogs. 🙂 Hugs
Thanks Maggie! He certainly was protective of his lunch 🙂 Hugs to you too.
Great photos ~ and while the opening shot really grabbed me, I really like the 2nd to the last. Beautiful ~
Thanks Randall for your encouraging comment. That photo was a strike of luck.
Those shots always seem to be the best 🙂