OWSEM member Rob Poniatowski took this osprey photo at Pointe Mouillee back on July 18th. He was wondering if we knew more about this bird from its bands.
It turns out this is an osprey that was probably banded in 2002 (new looking red class band on left leg) by wildlife biologist and osprey expert Sergej Postupalsky, most likely in the Houghton Lake - Alpena area or perhaps in the UP.
Rob took this picture as it was returning to fish for a second time. He saw it catch a fish and return about 10 minutes later to catch another. He correctly speculated that it may have delivered the first fish to a nest or lost it to another, larger raptor, such a a bald eagle.
Too bad we can't read the markings on the USF&W band on the right leg. With that info, Sergej could look in his records and know the exact nest from which this bird came.
Rob Poniatowski photo; used with permission
After closing the Osprey Fest activities on Saturday, July 22nd, several of us ventured out to the Dawson Rd. nest site to see how the chicks were doing. We found they had all fledged successfully, were behind us hiding in the trees, and on occasion being quite vocal.
Mother bird was putting up a fuss at us being there and made several passes close by to display her displeasure.
OWSEM member Martha Hitchiner took this photo of the Dawson Rd. female on one of her passes. Note the colored class band above her USF&W band. She was captured and banded in 2005.
Martha Hitchiner photo; used with permission
While at Dawson, we got a chance to see that pair engaging in some "pair bonding" activity; flying together in unison and in a somewhat precision formation. That's the male above his mate in this photo taken by OWSEM member Annette Piechowski.
Annette and her friend Karen came to Osprey Fest from the Cleveland area. They are both volunteers at the Medina Raptor Center and were part of the team that rehabilitated and released a female osprey that came to them last summer. That story is here!
Annette Piechowski photo; used with permission
As we were watching the Dawson birds, the male showed up carrying this koi to the nest. We still don't where he is finding these, but brings them quite frequently.
With that bright orange-red color, seeing them underwater has to be easy!
We left shortly after this fish arrived so that the chicks would return to the nest to feed.
Jim Kortge photo; used with permission
Ospreys are our passion, but we love seeing other neat birds.
While OWSEM member Mike Hitchiner was helping to man the spotting scopes on the Wildwing Lake boardwalk during Osprey Fest, three Sandhill Cranes flew by. He took this photo.
Earlier he had remarked about never seeing sandhill cranes at Kensington. This one flew withing 50 feet of him!
We commented that Martha would probably not let him use "her" camera again.
OWSEM member Rob Poniatowski took this osprey photo at Pointe Mouillee back on July 18th. He was wondering if we knew more about this bird from its bands.
After closing the Osprey Fest activities on Saturday, July 22nd, several of us ventured out to the Dawson Rd. nest site to see how the chicks were doing. We found they had all fledged successfully, were behind us hiding in the trees, and on occasion being quite vocal.
While at Dawson, we got a chance to see that pair engaging in some "pair bonding" activity; flying together in unison and in a somewhat precision formation. That's the male above his mate in this photo taken by OWSEM member Annette Piechowski.
As we were watching the Dawson birds, the male showed up carrying this koi to the nest. We still don't where he is finding these, but brings them quite frequently. 
Ospreys are our passion, but we love seeing other neat birds.