By Peter Roos
Along Florida’s coast, the osprey is one of the most recognizable birds of sky and shoreline. Often called the “fish hawk,” this large raptor thrives anywhere saltwater meets abundant prey—over bays and estuaries, along barrier islands, and above rivers that spill into the Gulf and Atlantic. When flying, you can pick one out by its long, narrow wings, bent slightly at the “wrist,” its white underparts, and the bold dark stripe that runs through the eye like a mask.
Ospreys are built for fishing. Their outer toes can swivel to help grip slippery prey, and the undersides of their feet have rough spicules that act almost like traction. When an osprey spots a fish near the surface, it may hover briefly, then plunge feet-first, sometimes disappearing in a splash before beating back into the air. Many coastal anglers have watched an osprey carry its catch away headfirst—an aerodynamic trick that reduces drag in flight.
Just as striking as their hunting is their nesting behavior. Along Florida’s coast, ospreys readily use both natural snags and human-made platforms—channel markers, light poles, and purpose-built nest stands near marinas. A nest can become enormous over time as pairs add sticks, seaweed, and debris year after year. In many areas, you can see adults bringing fish to begging chicks in spring and early summer, while by late summer, young birds begin testing their wings over the same waters they’ll soon learn to hunt. Florida’s mild climate means ospreys are present year-round in many places, though numbers swell during migration. Their comeback is also a conservation story: after declines linked to pesticide contamination in the mid-20th century, protections and cleaner waterways helped populations rebound. Today, spotting an osprey coursing above the surf is a reminder of how closely coastal wildlife—and our own choices—are tied to the health of Florida’s waters.
Others summer in cooler climes. In 2024, we took a road trip from Colorado to Montana and we stayed at Dunrovin Ranch, an equestrian facility 10 miles south of Missoula, near Lolo Springs. It was a magical spot, including a number of webcams on the property. One of the webcams, which is focused on a nest where a pair of ospreys perennially raise their young each summer, is popular, especially among shut-ins with wifi throughout the US and Canada. www.daysatdunrovin.com