| Antigua
Birds: |
OSPREY
Family: Accipitridae (Hawks)
Pandion haliaetus
This large uncommon Antigua and Barbudan resident is a
24 inch long sea hawk. It is black with a white head and
undersides, and was named after Pandion, the King of
Athens, father of Philomena and Procne. This bird
winters in South America and Mexico and migrates north
in spring through the Caribbean as far north as Canada
and Alaska. Solitary birds may be seen perched in the
mangroves at English Harbour, Indian Creek and other
localities in spring, spotting for fish. They also fly
between 30-100 ft hovering over a school of fish ready
to dive.
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Photo by Peter Duce |
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It
is said they can catch fish in the talons up to 4 lbs. The catch
is then eaten at leisure in a habitual perch or taken to a nest
to feed young or sitting female.
Nests are often built in dead trees near the water in North
America, built of sticks, seaweeds, driftwood or other trash
from wetlands. The nests can weigh up to half a ton. Nests are
used year after year for decades. Three pink to white eggs,
heavily blotched and spotted with browns, are laid. The young
hatch after about a month and the young make first flights after
about eight weeks and return to their nests.
Ospreys have been known to live up to 32 years and they fly
about 27 mph. The maximum weight is about 3lbs 8 oz. |
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