Publication Date
9-1-2009
Abstract
This paper summarizes selected data collected during my recent field studies of nesting and foraging Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) in Florida and Texas, and it includes descriptions of several unknown behaviors documented in photographs. The unknown courtship display of Stick-Breaking-Off-and-Presenting Display was observed several times, performed by males inside the Honeymoon Island semi-colony in Florida. During this courting display, Osprey males broke off sticks in view of their mates and brought those sticks near the female’s perching site. Osprey intraspecific kleptoparasitism of nesting materials, never reported before, was observed on several occasions. A curious behavior of Osprey swallowing seagrass was also observed that may be related to the pellet casting process. The author discusses the possibility of Osprey using a low angle strike to avoid the stiff, sharp tips of some fish dorsal fin spines when striking its prey. The male Wings-Drooping-And-Shivering display observed at Honeymoon Island Osprey population is the second known record of this display for Pandion sp. and first record for Pandion haliaetus, if Pandion cristatus is accepted as a separate species. Other selected behaviors reported and discussed include a few comfort movements and cases where observed Ospreys were willing to take dive chances for exchange of small or partially eaten fish with a new larger one.
Creative Commons License
Recommended Citation
Bartosik, Mark B.
(2009)
"Osprey (Pandion Haliaetus): Notes On Unknown And Poorly Studied Behaviors,"
Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society: Vol. 42:
Iss.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tos_bulletin/vol42/iss1/4