This is goanna hurt!
I was recently blessed to spend an hour or so watching a pair of ospreys working feverously on their nest high up in a Ft. Pickens Florida pine tree. I was impressed by how the female would maliciously weave the pine branches while the male gathered. On at least two occasions, the males’ selections were rejected for quality control issues. The disappointment could be clearly seen in his eyes…it was the same look I give the Mrs. when I return to the grocery cart with bananas that are in the “wrong stage of ripeness” and are rejected by the female. The nest was in its earlier stages, not any wider that the female’s length.
At one point, I noticed the male returning empty taloned. The female immediately ducked her head, bracing for impact as instead of landing on an adjacent branch as he had so many times before, this time was it was the middle of her back. She knew his intensions while he was pretty far back…I’m guessing this is not part of the mating process as she should be well underway with egg development (normally 13.4 weeks from mating to first egg), so hopefully it is normal osprey behavior and not retaliation for stick rejection! Maybe it was to better compact the base construction of the nest…I truly have no idea.
He walked around on her back with talon tips beneath her feathers, wings fully retracted and seemingly proud…as if participating in some type of sick Edward Scissorhands exfoliating pregnancy back rub. I suppose it could be the equivalent to our hug…
I truly love the “why” aspect of nature.
It is 3am and I need some sleep. I hope your weekend is blessed!
John
This is goanna hurt!
I was recently blessed to spend an hour or so watching a pair of ospreys working feverously on their nest high up in a Ft. Pickens Florida pine tree. I was impressed by how the female would maliciously weave the pine branches while the male gathered. On at least two occasions, the males’ selections were rejected for quality control issues. The disappointment could be clearly seen in his eyes…it was the same look I give the Mrs. when I return to the grocery cart with bananas that are in the “wrong stage of ripeness” and are rejected by the female. The nest was in its earlier stages, not any wider that the female’s length.
At one point, I noticed the male returning empty taloned. The female immediately ducked her head, bracing for impact as instead of landing on an adjacent branch as he had so many times before, this time was it was the middle of her back. She knew his intensions while he was pretty far back…I’m guessing this is not part of the mating process as she should be well underway with egg development (normally 13.4 weeks from mating to first egg), so hopefully it is normal osprey behavior and not retaliation for stick rejection! Maybe it was to better compact the base construction of the nest…I truly have no idea.
He walked around on her back with talon tips beneath her feathers, wings fully retracted and seemingly proud…as if participating in some type of sick Edward Scissorhands exfoliating pregnancy back rub. I suppose it could be the equivalent to our hug…
I truly love the “why” aspect of nature.
It is 3am and I need some sleep. I hope your weekend is blessed!
John