Lessons

It seems to me that the osprey parents are working hard now to make sure Junior has all the skills needed to survive, once the big day comes when s/he flies on his/her own.  Some of the lessons seem to apply to my own life, and the gift that was waiting, just around the corner from where I work, is very much appreciated.  Not only the wildlife observation, but the people I have met, will leave an indelible impact.  Again, I must mention Ship Rock, who has taken time to show me things I would never have understood on my own.  There are others as well.  Pervez Iqbal, Lenscape, Mark, the Bangladesh photographer, a man by the name of Osbourne, Grandpa Wayne, Jean, Black Jack, Iputts, and last but for sure not least, Bill.  Each has added something magnificent to this whole experience, and I thank them. 

But, on with the ospreys.  First, a picture of Dad, taken yesterday. 

And, one of Mom, taken on Monday.  This one shows what I think of as braking action, as she prepares to land.
Another of Mom, with a fish.
Mom, with Junior.  The lesson, perhaps, is that even as Junior gains independence and learns to eat on his own, it is still okay, sometimes, to go back a few steps.
Here is Junior.  I am beginning to see a necklace form, and so wonder, more and more, if Junior is a female.  This is the greatest height I've been able to record, as he practices flapping his wings.
This is Junior with Dad, his wing patting Dad, as he does more wing flapping.  The lesson?  Patience, perhaps.
More flapping, Dad's head behind Junior's wing.
Yesterday, Dad left an entire fish for Junior.  Junior has to work to kill the poor thing.  A sign that he is almost ready to leave the nest?

Mom's lesson on Monday

On Monday afternoon, Mom must have made 40 trips around, and around the nest.  I wonder if she was teaching take off/landing technique, nest building, or perhaps just encouraging Junior to do what he must, and leave the nest.  She must have been exhausted, but she seemed tireless.  Junior did not always seem to be paying attention, but she carried on.  Perhaps, she understood that that is the way, sometimes, with adolescents, and even when they appear to resist, the lessons come back to them when they are needed.  

Here is one sequence of her flight path.  

1. Leave the nest.

2. Fly to the right, past Dad, who sits quietly.
3. Grab a stick from the water.  (Just below the nest, so Junior can observe.)
4. Continue on.  Pay no attention to the seals.
5. Pass by the yacht club.
6. Ride the stick like a broom.
7. On the way back now.
9. Turn to the left.
10. Pass by the nest and around the yacht club.
11. Make the turn to complete the circle.

12. Heading to the nest.

13. The landing, with the stick dropped beside Junior.

Dad's lessons on Tuesday

Dad seemed to take over the teaching on Tuesday.  I had a hard time catching the shots and was never completely successful.  It seems like the drop down comes out of the blue, and by the time the camera is ready, the action is lost.  Here are a couple of sequences.  

#1. He drops straight down from the nest..

..catches a fish..
..comes almost straight back up, through his own water splash droplets..
..and then takes the fish to his own pylon, to work on it.  (My emotions are always mixed: happy for Dad and sad for the fish.)
#2: Looks down.  Head bobs to the right and to the left (sort of like a dancer, with the body still and only the head moving)  just before the drop down.
Drops down.  Grabs the fish.
Straight up with the fish.
#3. Nest building lesson?  Both parents have been sort of prodding Junior with sticks.  Here, a stick lies on Junior's head..
..delivers the stick, as Junior watches.

Seals give lessons too.

Mother and child approach log.

Climbing up requires that they lean to one side.
Baby is upset about something and bawls.
The lesson?  Maybe: comfort your child when needed.

Otters

For the first time, I saw otters.  I knew they were around, but yesterday, they gave me the gift of an appearance.  Here, a successful catch.

The lesson?  Maybe, to have fun while you work.

Black Jack

It has been wonderful to have Black Jack with me for all of my wildlife observation excursions.  Every moment with her is precious.  She makes me laugh when she plays.  She makes me smile when she meets new people (except for post people, or anyone resembling a post person.  Why is that??  Still a lesson to learn, I guess.)

Here, she lies on the beach, where she has been happily exploring, while I take pictures.  But, enough is enough.  She is bored and ready to go.  The lesson?  Let mom know how you feel.
We're off again today.  I'm wondering if Junior has taken his first flight, maybe even as I was doing this post. Whatever we find, I send my thanks to the humans, animals, birds, otters and seals who have made this learning experience so much fun.