Audubon's Birds/BIRDSVER1_3.BIN/dp/0002/00023.txt

Text File | 1992-08-27 | 16KB | 244 lines

$Unique_ID{BRD00023}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{The Fish Hawk, or Osprey}
$Subject{Falconinae; Pandion; Haliaetus; Fish Hawk; Osprey}
$Journal{Birds of America:  Volume I}
$Volume{Vol. 1:64-69}
$Family{Falconinae}
$Genus{Pandion}
$Species{Haliaetus}
$Common_Name{Fish Hawk; Osprey}
$Log{
Plate XV*00023p1.scf
Family*00006.txt
Genus*00022.txt
}

       Portions copyright (c) Creative Multimedia Corp., 1990-91, 1992

                       B I R D S   O F   A M E R I C A .

                    By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.

                   ------------------------------------------
                                    VOL. I.
                        --------------------------------


                           THE FISH HAWK, OR OSPREY.
                                   [Osprey.]


                           PANDION HALIAETUS, Savig.
                              [Pandion haliaetus.]


                                PLATE XV.--MALE.


     The habits of this famed bird differ so materially from those of almost all
others of its genus, that an accurate description of them cannot fail to be
highly interesting to the student of nature.
     The Fish Hawk may be looked upon as having more of a social disposition
than most other Hawks.  Indeed, with the exception of the Swallow-tailed Hawk
(Falco furcatus), I know none so gregarious in its habits.  It migrates in
numbers, both during spring, when it shews itself along our Atlantic shores,
lakes, and rivers, and during autumn, when it retires to warmer climes.  At
these seasons, it appears in flocks of eight or ten individuals, following the
windings of our shores in loose bodies, advancing in easy sailings or flappings,
crossing each other in their gyrations.  During the period of their stay in the
United States, many pairs are seen nestling, rearing their young, and seeking
their food within so short a distance of each other, that while following the
margins of our eastern shores, a Fish Hawk, or a nest belonging to the species,
may be met with at every short interval.
     The Fish Hawk may be said to be of a mild disposition.  Not only do these
birds live in perfect harmony together, but they even allow other birds of very
different character to approach so near to them as to build their nests of the
very materials of which the outer parts of their own are constructed.  I have
never observed a Fish Hawk chasing any other bird whatever.  So pacific and
timorous is it, that, rather than encounter a foe but little more powerful than
itself, it abandons its prey to the White-headed Eagle, which, next to man, is
its greatest enemy.  It never forces its young from the nest, as some other
Hawks do, but, on the contrary, is seen to feed them even when they have begun
to procure food for themselves.
     Notwithstanding all these facts, a most erroneous idea prevails among our
fishermen, and the farmers along our coasts, that the Fish Hawk's nest is the
best scare-crow they can have in the vicinity of their houses or grounds.  As
these good people affirm, no Hawk will attempt to commit depreciations on their
poultry, so long as the Fish Hawk remains in the country.  But the absence of
most birds of prey from those parts at the time when the Fish Hawk is on our
coast, arises simply from the necessity of retiring to the more sequestered
parts of the interior for the purpose of rearing their young in security, and
the circumstance of their visiting the coasts chiefly at the period when myriads
of water-fowl resort to our estuaries at the approach of winter, leaving the
shores and salt-marshes at the return of spring, when the Fish Hawk arrives.
However, as this notion has a tendency to protect the latter, it may be so far
useful, the fisherman always interposing when he sees a person bent upon the
destruction of his favourite bird.
     The Fish Hawk differs from all birds of prey in another important
particular, which is, that it never attempts to secure its prey in the air,
although its rapidity of flight might induce an observer to suppose it perfectly
able to do so.  I have spent weeks on the Gulf of Mexico, where these birds are
numerous, and have observed them sailing and plunging into the water, at a time
when numerous shoals of flying fish were emerging from the sea to evade the
pursuit of the dolphins.  Yet the Fish Hawk never attempted to pursue any of
them while above the surface, but would plunge after one of them or a
bonito-fish, after they had resumed their usual mode of swimming near the
surface.
     The motions of the Fish Hawk in the air are graceful, and as majestic as
those of the Eagle.  It rises with case to a great height by extensive
circlings, performed apparently by mere inclinations of the wings and tail.  It
dives at times to some distance with the wings partially closed, and resumes its
sailing, as if these plunges were made for amusement only.  Its wings are
extended at right angles to the body, and when thus flying it is easily
distinguishable from all other Hawks by the eye of an observer accustomed to
note the flight of birds.  Whilst in search of food, it flies with easy
flappings at a moderate height above the water, and with an apparent
listlessness, although in reality it is keenly observing the objects beneath.
No sooner does it spy a fish suited to its taste, than it checks its course with
a sudden shake of its wings and tail, which gives it the appearance of being
poised in the air for a moment, after which it plunges headlong with great
rapidity into the water, to secure its prey, or continues its flight, if
disappointed by having observed the fish sink deeper.
     When it plunges into the water in pursuit of a fish, it sometimes proceeds
deep enough to disappear for an instant.  The sure caused by its descent is so
great as to make the spot around it present the appearance of a mass of foam.
On rising with its prey, it is seen holding it in the manner represented in the
Plate.  It mounts a few yards into the air, shakes the water from its plumage,
squeezes the fish with its talons, and immediately proceeds towards its nest, to
feed its young, or to a tree, to devour the fruit of its industry in peace.
When it has satisfied its hunger, it does not, like other Hawks, stay perched
until hunger again urges it forth, but usually sails about at a great height
over the neighbouring waters.
     The Fish Hawk has a great attachment to the tree to which it carries its
prey, and will not abandon it, unless frequently disturbed, or shot at whilst
feeding there.  It shews the same attachment to the tree on which it has built
its first nest, and returns to it year after year.
     This species winters along the southern coasts of the Floridas, and
proceeds eastward as the season advances.  In the Middle Districts, the
fishermen hail its appearance with joy, as it is the harbinger of various
species of fish which resort to the Atlantic coasts, or ascend the numerous
rivers.  It arrives in the Middle States about the beginning of April, and
returns southward at the first appearance of frost.  I have occasionally seen a
few of these birds on the muddy lakes of Louisiana, in the neighbourhood of New
Orleans, during the winter months; but they appeared emaciated, and were
probably unable to follow their natural inclinations, and proceed farther south.
     As soon as the females make their appearance, which happens eight or ten
days after the arrival of the males, the love-season commences, and soon after,
incubation takes place.  The loves of these birds are conducted in a different
way from those of the other Falcons.  The males are seen playing through the air
amongst themselves, chasing each other in sport, or sailing by the side or after
the female which they have selected, uttering cries of joy and exultation,
alighting on the branches of the tree on which their last year's nest is yet
seen remaining, and doubtless congratulating each other on finding their home
again.  Their caresses are mutual.  They begin to augment their habitation,