I became interested in Osprey earlier this year in the spring. I began to do a little research and found they are in my area of Florida year round. Did you know that Osprey mate for life? And that they have an extra eyelid which can be compared to the swimming goggles swimmers sometime wear? They use those ‘goggle-like’ lids to protect their eyes when they dive for fish and so they have visibility under the water. There are so many cool facts about them. If you are a bird fan you might want to look them up on the internet. You can just ‘Google’ them.
Once I knew they lived in my area, I went out to hopefully locate several nests. I took my camera and went to see if I could get some good reference photos. I was so surprised as less then a few miles from my home there were at least 12 nests! And it was spring so most of the nests had baby or juvenile osprey! I had a great time taking photos at sunrise and sunset as often as I could make time. And these photos are what I am using to compose some interesting paintings. I found I could not just do one painting…..very interesting birds and lots of great shots to choose from! So I am doing a series of Osprey Paintings!
Doing a little research and being willing to be outdoors usually can create some great experiences for yourself and your family. Sometimes just taking a walk along the waterways or beaches or nature preserve areas will result in some really nice nature experiences. And I love Frodo’s line to Sam in the Lord of the Rings: “… Remember what Bilbo used to say: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no telling where you might be swept off to.” I encourage you to go out your front door!
