LUCKY’S legacy
I had been watching and photographing nesting Ospreys in my neighborhood for several years and had always enjoyed seeing their skillful flying and ability to catch fish. I thought I knew the birds pretty well, but in the summer of 2016, I took a series of photos that made me do a doubletake.
When I looked closely at the images on my computer screen, I noticed what appeared to be an antenna protruding from behind the head of one of the young birds. I had to know more, and my search for answers introduced me to a remarkable research project about the Osprey — one of the best-studied raptors in the world — and a dedicated scientist who has uncovered many of its secrets.
I live on the outskirts of St. John’s, a city on the island of Newfoundland, in the easternmost region of Canada. Years ago, the local power company installed a couple of nest platforms for Osprey in our area — a common practice in many places where the species breeds. The platforms are a win/win for the birds and for utility companies. The big raptors have learned to build their nests on the platforms and not on power substations and transmission-line equipment. The birds can raise their families without the threat of being electrocuted, and the companies avoid potential damage that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars from nests shorting out the equipment.
Nearby is a
