| A migrating osprey soars over Lake Jacksonville
during the fall of 2000. Ospreys rarely nest in Illinois but
can sometimes be seen during migration. Bald eagles reaching
maturity are sometimes mistaken for ospreys. If the white head
of an eagle is streaked, it can lead to some confusion. |
| Seeing a fish in the lake below, an osprey folds
up its wings and begins to dive. |
| It picks up speed as it heads for the water. |
| It hits the water with a large splash and seems
to disappear beneath the surface. |
| No luck this time. The osprey takes off from
the water to try again. |
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Directory | Return
to Illinois Raptor Center Home Page | Learn about our educational programs
|
Quick Facts About Ospreys:
Diet:
Mostly fish. Ospreys are seen hunting over
bodies of water.
Status:
Recovering after being pushed to the brink
of extinction by the use of pesticides like DDT. DDT is still
used in some countries south of the United States so migratory
birds like ospreys are still at risk. For
more about the history of DDT, go to our bald eagle page.
When Do We See Them?
A few Ospreys nest in Illinois, but the best
time to see them is during spring and fall migration.
Where Do We See Them?
Near lakes, rivers, streams and sometimes
ponds.
A.K. A.
"Fish Hawk"
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