Diving Osprey in West Seattle
Story + Photography by Sara Montour Lewis
I grew up in Minnesota, surrounded by lakes in every direction, and the true sign that we were past winter and planted firmly in summer was the sound of the loons calling across the lakes. They know better than we do, always, as is apparent by the masses of Minnesotans that are completely shocked every single year when it snows in April.
Since moving to the Pacific Northwest I’m lucky enough to be able to see loons throughout the year (albeit they look + seem completely foreign to me in their non-breeding plumage while swimming on saltwater and feasting on crabs), so I’ve had to look to a new species as my symbol of summer’s return.
This year, as I found myself craning my neck to the sky and anxiously checking the nest near my house to catch a glimpse of white, it occurred to me that without realizing it the Osprey has become that seasonal symbol for me.
As Osprey return from their winter homes in Central + South America the daytime low tides here in Puget Sound start returning again, fish start moving into shallower waters and we get to see them soaring above, looking for fish, before quickly diving below the surface, seemingly turning into one.
Conservation Opportunities
Like the Bald Eagle, Osprey were one of the species hit hardest from the use of the pesticide DDT and the ban in 1972 helped their numbers rebound. Since then they’ve made a recovery, but continue to be impacted by the use of new pesticides + chemicals and are also susceptible to getting tangled in abandoned fishing gear that they pickup as nest building materials.
Their fate is also undeniably tied to the health of our waters, as fish make up 99% of their diet.
The Northwest Straits Foundation has a great program focusing on removing derelict gear from Puget Sound, which you can support here.
Puget Soundkeeper + Puget Sound Restoration Fund are also working hard every day to keep Puget Sound clean.
Wild Fish Conservancy + Trout Unlimited + Skagit Fisheries + Long Live the Kings focus on supporting sustainable fisheries + watersheds.
