Osprey

Scientific Name: Pandion haliaetus
Maltese Name: Arpa
Family: Ospreys (Pandionidae)
Occurence: Regular
Breeds in Malta: No

Overview:
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle is a fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, with a 2 m wingspan. It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts, with a black eye patch and wings.
The Osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant.
As its other common name suggests, the Osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish. It has evolved specialised physical characteristics and exhibits unique behaviour to assist in hunting and catching prey. As a result of these unique characteristics, it has been given its own taxonomic genus, Pandion and family, Pandionidae.
Fish make up 99% of the Osprey's diet. Ospreys have vision that is well adapted to detecting underwater objects from the air. The Osprey is particularly well adapted to this diet, with reversible outer toes, sharp spicules on the underside of the toes, closable nostrils to keep out water during dives, and backwards-facing scales on the talons which act as barbs to help hold its catch. The Osprey and Owls are the only raptors whose outer toe is reversible, allowing them to grasp their prey with two toes in front and two behind. This is particularly helpful when they grab slippery fish.
The nest is a large heap of sticks, driftwood and seaweed built in forks of trees, rocky outcrops, utility poles, artificial platforms or offshore islets. Ospreys usually mate for life.

Status:
Scarce migrant in Spring but regular in Autumn. Mostly seen migrating high up in singles. Rarely, birds are seen fishing at Salina or Ghadira Nature Reserve. Up to 5 birds are recorded on good days in Autumn.
Most of the birds we get in Malta are from Scandinavian countries but in 2010 a bird from Germany was recovered after it was shot.

When to See:
March till May in Spring and mid-August till early November in Autumn.

Where to See:
Can be seen flying over form anywhere during migration. Mostly recorded from Buskett and Dwejra (Malta) during autumn raptor migration.

Photographs:

Osprey, Buskett

Osprey mobbed by Eleonora's Falcons, Buskett

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