Meet the BBO Osprey - Ozzie
As the heat of the day dissipates and the light starts to fade, a young male osprey gracefully glides into the BBO. He lands atop the Discovery Centre, surveying the surrounding landscape. Meet Ozzie, our local osprey.
The ubiquitous osprey is found on every continent except Antarctica. In Australia they are often mistaken for the white-bellied sea eagle, an equally majestic bird of prey that patrols our coastlines. While both species favour coastal areas and feed predominantly on fish, there are some key differences to look out for. Ospreys are smaller and have a bold dark stripe over the eye, which helps them with glare while hunting for fish. White-bellied sea eagles are much larger with a distinctive white head and belly contrasting against grey wings. When soaring, the osprey has an ‘M’ shape to its wings whereas the white-bellied sea eagle soars on upswept wings in a deep ‘V’ shape. Refer to your field guide for more information!
Ospreys build large nests that can be up to two metres wide. These nests are built high up in trees, on cliff faces or manmade structures such as radio towers. Made of sticks, driftwood and seaweed, ospreys tend to return to the same nest year after year to rear their chicks. Both parents share in the care of two to three eggs, alternating who leaves the nest to hunt.
To hunt their prey, ospreys will hover above a water body and dive down to grab a fish with their talons. Using their powerful wings they return to the sky to scope out a spot on land to feed. Rather than eating their catch whole, ospreys will rip it apart with their feet.
Visit our stall at the Broome Courthouse Markets on Saturday morning to see a close up view of the osprey nest in the Telstra tower. In the coming months you might be lucky enough to see a tiny chick pop its head up. Until then, watch the parents as they soar and survey, alternating who hunts and who looks after the eggs.
Like Ozzie, eastern ospreys are mostly solitary but they do pair with a breeding partner. Evidence suggests that they mate for life. Our Ozzie hasn’t quite found his soulmate yet but it’s only a matter of time. The team at the BBO hopes to fundraise to construct a platform on top of Discovery Centre to provide a safe nesting site for Ozzie and his future partner. Similar projects have been successful in places like Ballina, Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas and Kangaroo Island.
Keep an eye out for Ozzie on your next visit to the BBO!
Extra Osprey facts
They have a unique adaptation called a nictitating membrane which covers their eyes and allows them to see underwater when they dive (like a pair of goggles!)
Unlike other hawks, ospreys have a reversible outer toe that helps them hold onto food
Ospreys can have a wingspan of up to 1.7 metres
The female tends to be larger than the male
Breeding ospreys have been known to travel up to 14 km from the nest to hunt