When I got to Roosevelt Island for a shoot on 4/13, I noticed a pair of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) carrying building materials for a nest. I followed them down to Little Island, where I found a nest high up on top of a dead tree.
Tags: silhouette washington dc district of columbia little island theodore roosevelt island Pandion haliaetus osprey nest nature birds birds of prey raptor potomac river george washington memorial parkway
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Both male and female ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) gather building materials for their nest. The yellowish color on the bird's underside is from reflected sunlight filtered by clouds.
Tags: washington dc district of columbia little island theodore roosevelt island Pandion haliaetus osprey nest nature birds birds of prey dcist raptor potomac river george washington memorial parkway
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Unfinished osprey nest, with a female sitting in it.
(Pandion haliaetus)
Tags: washington dc district of columbia little island theodore roosevelt island Pandion haliaetus osprey nest nature birds birds of prey raptor potomac river george washington memorial parkway
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Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) dropping a stick on the pile.
Why are there blurred branches in the foreground? Because I was using a kind of "osprey blind" to shield me a bit from the birds' view, lest they get spooked by my presence. I did not want to get too close to the nest and tree for that reason, and for avoiding the problem of losing sight of the nest if I stood right underneath it. When I return, I'll see if I can find a clearer place to shoot from a reasonable distance without having to stand in the river.
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I'm guessing that's the male osprey (Pandion haliaetus) with his wings flapping on his way back to the nest. A male osprey caters to his mate's dietary needs, while the female tends to the nest and any offspring.
Tags: washington dc district of columbia little island theodore roosevelt island Pandion haliaetus osprey nest nature birds birds of prey dcist raptor potomac river george washington memorial parkway
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