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Osprey Bathing

Pandion haliaetus

Photo by AshleyT
Published on Project Noah
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26.0734, -97.2086

Field Notes

Description:

They have a dark brown back and a white belly. The head is white with brown streaks behind the big, yellow eyes.

Habitat:

Found on the coasts on all continents except Antarctica. This guy was bathing himself in the laguna and was a treat to watch!

Reference Links:

Osprey

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (8)
ChristyHolland
I have to add that at our raptor rehab sanctuary, some of our birds would stand in the spray of the hose (gentle misting spray) and absolutely soak themselves...they looked like drowned cats! But then they would proceed to preen themselves until they were dry and beautiful!!
ChristyHolland
LOVE IT!!! I think bathing birds are a cross between gorgeous and hysterical!!! Great series, Ashley!! ;-)
AshleyT
Hypothermia was not an issue considering it was 80F outside and the water was warm as well, we were doing fish sampling so were in the water a lot. It wasn't cold. And he seems deep since he was squatting down. When he stood up, I could see the tops of his legs just fine.
XXD17
Oh ok...I was just wondering because it's seems counterproductive for a bird that gets wet enough as it is to intentionally drench itself in water...even when you looks at songbirds, they never leave drenched in water...but I've never seen an osprey do it...I have, however, seen birds, ducks even, die from hypothermia from being soaked in too much water...also, the first photo made it seem like it was in really deep.
AshleyT
Yes, Xiaoxuan, I am sure. He was only standing in about 4 inches of water, which I knew because I saw him stand up many times. The point of bathing is to get themselves drenched, which is why he is drenched. He was not messed up or in deep water, you can't assume things like that because you see a few pictures. I watched him for about 10 minutes, then also watched him fly away perfectly fine.
XXD17
Are you sure it was bathing? It looks really far in...and drenched...being a non-aquatic bird, ospreys don't have the specialized oils for waterproofing like waterfowl so they risk hypothermia when they hunt...this is because instead if grabbing prey at the surface like other piscivorous raptors, they plunge feet first into the water to grab prey lower in the water column...this guy might just have messed up on a grab and is now in deep water
AntónioGinjaGinja
Wow,that's a great spotting,rigth in time,great cache,congrats and thanks for sharing

Spotted for Missions

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Birds of the World
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Raptors of North America
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Wildlife of the Rio Grande Valley
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Birds of Texas
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Gulf Coast Wildlife
Photographed
PublishedMarch 23, 2013

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