Dreaming the World

A hot, humid, heat advisory sort of day, the sun unflinching in a cloudless sky.

Saturday evening Jennie and I were at the beach, enjoying our “kiddie” sized ice creams and watching the osprey. There were three almost grown chicks in the nest. A couple were exercising their wings, one standing on the perch beside the nest. Jennie said she thought they were ready to fledge but I thought it too soon.

Sunday night I was back, checking on the chicks’ progress while Jennie was teaching in Boston. We try to be careful not to get too close and disturb the family; although they are very used to people thew parents are watchful. As I watched, the two parents came to the nest, there was a bit of a moment of confusion, and they flew off again leaving one chick still on the perch. A few minutes later I glanced up and saw three osprey flying high above the nest. When I looked, there appeared to be two chicks in the nest. It seems the confusion was a chick fledging! Apparently the chick and one parent flew while the other parent stayed briefly at the nest.

There is something in an osprey family flying together that just shouts “joy”. I wonder what it is like for the fledgeling to jump and then soar.

Last night I was back and all three chicks were on the nest while the parents fished nearby. Just as I arrived an adult left, carrying a fish away from the nest. My first thought was there was a hungry fledgling somewhere but probably no, so there is a small mystery.