Osprey
Images copyright by Mark A. Chappell

Ospreys suffered catastrophic population declines due to pesticide contamination of the food chain in much of North America, but now they are recovering -- and in many parts of Florida they are abundant and semi-colonial.   The birds pictured in flight were at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area near Riverside, California (upper center) and in southern Florida.  The bird eating a fish was photographed in Titusville, Florida, and the other sitting birds were in the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island, Florida and in Bolsa Chica wetlands in coastal Orange County, California (note the impressively large feet and sharp talons). Two photos at the bottom of the page shows a bird catching a large fish (mullet?) in dawn light at Bolsa Chica.

flight shots: digital captures, Canon 10D or 1D Mk. II or 1D3, 500 mm IS lens with 1.4X converter or 800 mm f5.6 IS lens, hand-held; 2004, 2007, 2008) perched birds: Canon 1D Mk. II, 500 mm IS lens with 2X converter (2004)