TEHRAN — One of the most spectacular species of Iran is ospery, the bird of prey. These species are recorded in the south coasts and Persian Gulf islands as a breeder and also recorded by chance in Shorek Plateau of Khorasan Province.

They are really important for Iranian conservationists because of their spectacular habitats. Ospery, with the scientific name of pandion haliaetus, is a summer visitor in Europe and passes winters in Africa.

Ospery breeds on clear freshwater lakes and on coasts at brackish water in the Mediterranean Sea. So conserving ospery is equal to conservation of specific wetlands.

Identification

Medium-large, long-winged, and ventrally pale plumage with unique flight silhouette are the best keys to identify ospery. Ospery is outstanding among the fishing birds of prey. It’s a fast and spectacular bird that begins high in the air and ends dramatically in the water.

Sometimes it will submerge itself completely, unlike other fishing raptors. Its wings are narrow with long hand and has only four fingers. It is important to notice its tail for identification because it is short and has square cut.

Hunting behavior

Ospery usually soars over the lakes and wetlands, looking for fish swimming close to the water surface. Once spotting its prey, ospery falls like a stone from the sky, while gaining speed. It opens out its wings to slow it down seconds before it hits the surface on the water. It brings its feet toward as it reaches the water’s surface.

At the second point, ospery outstretched feet pierce the surface of the water and thrust toward the fish with open claws. The fish can be nearly one meter down, and ospery has to plunge right into the water to reach it. However, the fish can manage the whole scene to avoid the hunter’s clutches, and the bird can take just a bath. After this point, ospery struggles back into the air to try again.

The next fish Osprey spies on is swimming at the water’s surface. Undeterred by the previous failure, the bird judges its dive well and soon the fish is gripped in ospery’s sharp talons. The spiny surface of ospery’s feet provides extra gripping force and prevents the slippery prey from getting free, no matter how much it tries.

Fighting for food

Ospery pulls the fish out of the water with powerful beats of its wings. Its feet hold the fish’s head first to cut down air resistance during the flight. And then ospery flies back to its perch. On the way, it might get attacked by pirates, birds that harry ospery and force it to drop its catch, which they then pounce on.

At last with its catch in its claws, ospery lands on its perch. There it uses its sharp bill to slice through the tough scales and skin of the fish to feast on the tasty flesh.

Success rate of bird of prey

Although ospery is a very skillful hunter, not all of its dives are successful. On average, it has to make three or four dives before it succeeds in making a prey. Osperys may make up to four preys a day to feed themselves, but they need to catch more fish if they are very hungry or when they are feeding chicks in the nest.