The Helping Hand...uhh...Talon...Beak...

  Occasionally, something occurs on the Bayou that truly saddens me.  Recently, an osprey was seen acting rather strange.  The bird appeared to be exhausted from flying but with each attempt to land in the old pine, a struggle would ensue and the bird would take flight again.  My first thought that something was in the tree that was prohibiting the bird from landing.  Maybe a large snake was there as rat snakes are known to even be in the tops of the tall pines.  Since I had nothing better to do, I sat down and watched the osprey.  Again and again, it made the attempt to alight in the tree to gain some much needed rest but each attempt was aborted.  Fatigue is not a good thing when you are in flight.

  Soon, the osprey flew low overhead and I was able to view the full bird.  It became quite apparent what was ailing the poor bird.  Evidently, the bird had tried to catch a fish but that fish was its undoing.   Wrapped around the osprey's legs was a fishing line with cork still attached.  The bird could not use its legs!  My heart started breaking for the bird.  What was it going to do??  Ospreys depend on those strong legs and talons for more than just perching in a tree.  Without the use of its legs, an osprey cannot fish for food.  I sat fretting over the bird and trying to figure how it could be helped.

  It was not long before it became clear that my help was not needed.  The bird did a belly-flop on the shore on the other side my brother's pier. It screamed for its mate who quickly came and between the two of them, they managed to pull the line from the legs of the exhausted bird!  The tired bird took flight again and landed on her perch in the pine.  Soon her devoted mate brought her a nice size fish...WITHOUT a hook and line.  The love and care that the male osprey showed for his ladylove was amazing.  The resiliency and determination of both birds is something that should be inspirational to all humans.  I sure learn a lot from the critters around here and I am so thankful that, what could have been devastating, turned out to be truly incredible. I only wish the camera lens could have caught this feat but the distance was just too great.