The second annual Ijams Osprey Brunch was held a week ago and the osprey did not disappoint. There were a lot of activity at the nest and around the area.
The brunch is timed for late in the nesting when the nestlings are almost grown but yet to fledge. This year's clutch of three are almost as big as their parents.
Historically, this fish-eating bird of prey only had a limited presence in the Tennessee Valley and the widespread usage of DDT curtailed even that. Today, with the banning of the pesticide in 1973, the species is making a robust comeback and expansion of their range. In modern times, osprey have only been in East Tennessee since the early 1980s. Now there are multiple nests up and down the chain of TVA lakes.
Thanks to Kodie for the brunch and Jim McCormick for the osprey photos!
- Stephen Lyn Bales.
Click the below links for a look back at other
Birding & Brunch outings
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