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The Belongil Estuary is home to so many beautiful birds such as the
Osprey, Brahminy Kite, Tern, Striated Bittern, Pied Oystercatcher,
Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee Eater, Egrets, Cormorants & Striated
Pardalote
to name a few.
The Osprey use the same nest each year. It's a
big nest on top of a man-made pole and they carry big sticks in their
beaks. The nest is lined with grass, seaweed or bark. They pair for
life or until one dies. They return to the nest each year and although
they both fetch the sticks, the female will usually place them in the
nest. She will remain on the nest most of the nesting time while the
male fishes and brings food.
Osprey are excellent fisherman
and dive headfirst with their wings pinned back, often catching very
large fish. They have very big feet and long talons and will perch on
clear branches as it's hard for them to balance otherwise.
I've
spent many hours standing in a small creek outlet
watching the Osprey and puzzling about their behaviour. I wonder why
the male flies in with a huge fish and sits on the pole opposite the
nest and takes ages to eat most of the fish while the female cries and
cries. Only when there's a morsel left does he fly over and give her
some. My best assumption is that he needs the energy to fish. But I
also had the great joy of seeing him
calling to her when she wouldn't come off the nest after the death of
their chick. It was a beautiful day and he seems to calling 'come on,
come on, come and fly with me'. Eventually she did and they were
spectacular swooping up and down the estuary, calling, circling high
and diving down along the surface of the water.
Deb |
