Dion, an Osprey or fish hawk, was removed from her nest at a very young age by a child and, subsequently, brought to Audubon's Center for Birds of Prey in the summer of 1989 by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. In the interim, she had been kept in captivity and had become "humanized." Once a bird begins to associate feeding and care with people, it loses its wild instincts and, therefore, the chance of survival in the wild is compromised. Dion's plumage showed signs of a vitamin deficiency suggesting she had been fed an improper diet.
Ospreys fed almost exclusively on fish. They hover over the water, watching the surface below. When prey is sighted, an Osprey dives steeply, its talons outspread, and splashes into the water. One of Dion's favorite pastimes is chasing live shiners in her aviary pool. She will vocalize loudly when approached by familiar staff members or volunteers and will eagerly come for fish at feeding time. She and her cage mate, Jeremy, can often be seen perching together, vocalizing with one another. Dion was named for the latin genus, Pandion, of which she is a member.
Ospreys are aften confused with Bald Eagles. The white head of the Osprey is similar to that of the eagle, but differs in that is has a black stripe behind the eye. Seen from below, the Osprey can also be distinguished by its white breast.
Dion can be sponsored through the Audubon Adopt-a-Bird program.
Call 407-644-0190 or e-mail info@adoptabird.org for details on how
you can make Dion a part of your family!
