A male osprey is fighting for a second chance at life, courtesy of a timely rescue and the staff at the Marathon Wild Bird Center.
On Monday, local resident Julie Cheon watched as the bird of prey miscalculated a lunchtime dive, crash-landing and struggling in the water before eventually pulling itself onto land.
“The osprey was clearly in distress and unable to fly,” said Cheon. “I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and grateful to help out in a small way. Dana Child from the bird center responded quickly and handled the rescue with incredible care.”
Unofficially dubbed “Ollie,” the injured bird was taken to the Wild Bird Center for evaluation and treatment. Kelly Grinter, the bird center’s founder, gave the Weekly a guarded prognosis when asked about Ollie’s chances for a recovery, noting that he had “decent weight” but “very poor feather condition” and had yet to eat voluntarily.
“This happens to older osprey who are getting tired of raising a family,” she said. “The male does most of the hunting, hence the wear and tear of the feathers, until the babies start to leave the nest; then the female helps. Usually every year I get one or two or even three old male osprey that are simply tired.”
As of Tuesday evening, Grinter said the bird was “feeling spunkier.”
“The wings out is his flight-before-fight mode, but he hasn’t anywhere to go at the moment,” she said.
Ospreys are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and are a common sight along the Florida Keys coastline, often seen nesting or hunting in open waters. Quick, coordinated responses help ensure these birds receive the care they need when injured.
To learn more about wildlife rescue or support the Marathon Wild Bird Center, visit marathonwildbirdcenter.org.
