On Pond Island, one of Project Puffin’s smallest research islands which focuses on studying and protecting common terns, the seabird biologists found signs that a Great Horned Owl was hunting in the tern colony. The biggest indication was that the colony of common terns were “dreading” each evening and abandoning the island for the night
This female osprey has begun hanging around the Hog Island osprey nest since the weekend. She has been accompanied by a male osprey, who might in fact be Steve… What does this mean? Is Steve supporting more than one female? Has Rachel decided to go elsewhere? On Monday Osprey cam commenters watched as this interloper
Found in birds such as pigeons and herons, powder down feathers are never molted. Instead, they grow continuously but disintegrate at the tips into something like a fine talcum powder. The powder permeates the other feathers, presumably to provide waterproofing, although the exact function is not well understood. This immature black crowned night heron is
Some beautiful detail caught by the osprey camera this past season. The feathers of of this magnificent raptor glow in the morning sunrise.
