July 17, 2007 This is a baby Osprey after a wild hail storm in Montana. My neighbors, Judy and Jordan, ran out of their house on Flathead Lake and found that the Osprey nest had been blown to the ground from its high perch in an old tree next to the house. They found this baby on the ground, wrapped it in a towel, and Jordan held it until it calmed down. Then they put it in this dog kennel and tried to figure out what to do. Jordan took this photo the next day and sent it to me in CA. NOTE: you can click on any picture to enlarge it. Then use the Back button on the browser to return here.
August 3--We arrive in MT (our house is a few doors down). All the experts said that it would be best to put the baby where the parents could see and hear it in hopes that they would feed and care for it until it could fly south with them at the end of August. They put some of the old nest in the kennel bottom (green plastic) and set it out on the boat dock roof. Judy put another kennel up there as well, hoping the baby would get out of the hot sun (it was in the 90s every day). Soon Mom and Dad came to the rescue. Mom unceremoniously dumped the fish Judy had laid out, and Dad went fishing.
linda jones
on April 6, 2008Hi Joan, what a wonderful story to see it and know he survived because of you guys. They are quite fascinating to watch. I enjoyed photographing a family for 3 weeks straight in Newport Beach last year from 20 ft. away. I got to see the babies fledge and photograph it. I was so attached to them!
Zoe
on December 17, 2007Love the story! Did the baby grow up and fly away yet? Did they build another nest? Great pics.
Zoe D.
Randy Hutchison
on December 16, 2007A nice story to go along with your photos. A very nice presentation.
Randy
Frank
on October 5, 2007Joan,
Nice to meet you on the SWA early am flight.... your photography is fantastic... what joy it must give you.
have fun on the upcoming adventure to Antartica! Give the penguins my best.
Frank R.
Sara
on September 25, 2007Joan - glorious, funny, moving, this would make a fantastic book for kids. Thanks for the ride!
Linda Saldana
on September 12, 2007This is really great, Joan. Kid's book? Definitely!
Pat Fisher
on September 3, 2007What a great experience for you. I sure do envy the chance to see them that close up and to follow all the way to flight. You are one lucky person . Great photos also.
Jo Tuxbury
on August 27, 2007Joan...and I thought watching my swallow familes swoop and catch bugs was exciting. Thanks for sharing your most treasured and unique photo journal of rescuing and raising the baby. There's never a dull moment in the neighborhood...Jo
Max
on August 26, 2007Joan - What an adventure! A rare set of photos of birds seldom seen close. Thanks for sharing them. You clearly had a great time and I had a great time watching the saga unfold.
Meghan
on August 18, 2007Joan your pictures are wonderful, as always. I wish i could be there with you. We are all looking forward to the end of the story.