Ontario, Canada this year has an excellent population of Osprey. Many of the nest have produced 2-3 chicks which all are feeding and growing rapidly, all great signs of high fish populations and an ecosystem that is recovering after the high levels of DDT in the 80's.
This nest was photographed near Kingston, Ontario on a private island owned by friends of my wife. With coffee in hand their day begins watching the Osprey 80' off their deck, life is good!
All images Canon 1DMIII, Canon 500/4.5 (nest image with Canon 2x)
Female returning to the nest with half eaten fish
Larger chick and mom in nest
Male Osprey returning with fish, looks like a sun fish or perch
Excellent shots here. Great detail and sharpness. I visit the nesting areas a little farther west near Port Hope where Hydro places, in laymans terms a skid on the hydro poles as a nest base to keep the birds from shorting out the lines and electrocuting themselves. But be wary, because if you are walking down these roads they will attack.
Darren.
Darren, thanks for the compliments
This nest is located on our friends private island, with this pair nesting now for 7 years. They sit about 80' from the deck where dogs play, parties happen and more. Occasionally the female will fly off and do circles above the nest but only when a dog gets close to the base of the tree, other then that, they have no concern for the people traffic. I guess they have gotten use to not being threatened by human presence.
