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Ospreys are very large hawks that fly with a distinctive kink in their wings. They eat fish almost exclusively and can be found around nearly any body of water: salt marshes, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, estuaries, and even coral reefs. As natural nest sites have succumbed to tree removal and shoreline development, specially constructed nest platforms and other structures, such as channel markers and utility poles, have become vital to the nesting of Ospreys. Osprey's conspicuous nests are up to 6 feet in diameter. Ospreys are a conservation success story and their populations grew following the U.S. DDT ban in 1972, with a current global population of a half million birds. DDT and its breakdown products caused eggshell thinning and population declines in several species, including the Osprey, Bald Eagle, Brown Pelican, and Peregrine Falcon, all of which recovered spectacularly following the DDT ban. Most Ospreys that breed in North America migrate to Central and South America for the winter and a few Ospreys overwinter in the southernmost United States, including southern Florida and California. Thus, the Osprey observed flying south by the Four Seasons Birding Club on April 7 was likely a wintering bird flying between fishing holes -- maybe from Yucaipa Regional Park to Lake Perris. ~ Steve Edelman Birding CLUB Bird of the Month FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MAY 2018 59 The Four Seasons Birding Club welcomes beginning and experienced birders to start or hone bird identification skills. The Club's main activity is a monthly bird walk along Four Seasons' beautiful nature trails, which follow native riparian woodlands. We also take field trips to local birding spots, discuss backyard bird feeding, and share information on unusual species and behaviors. Springtime is the time when birds start moving around and this was very evident during our April 7 bird walk when we identified a record 25 species! Highlights included an Osprey (our May Bird of the Month) and a flock of California Gulls, both first records for Four Seasons, and four Least Bell's Vireos (an endangered subspecies), including great looks at two of these elusive birds. John Hansen photographed several of our sightings, including this Mourning Dove in a pine. Additional Four Seasons first records documented recently by members include American Pipit, Oak Titmouse, and Pacific Wren (Genie and Bill Cooper), Rock Pigeon (Larry Colby), and Rufous Hummingbird (Tom and Barbara Mull). These sightings bring our Four Seasons tally up to 75 species! The Birding Club meets the first Saturday of each month at 8 am in the Lodge RCN Lobby. First we talk about birding, then go on our bird walk. Bring your binoculars or just come to a meeting and ask about birding gear. Sometimes our schedule changes, so before coming to a meeting and to receive club communications, email Steve Edelman at steve.h.edelman@gmail.com. ~ Steve Edelman Mourning Dove in a pine on nature trail Photo by John Hansen, Birding Club member Osprey with fish Photo by Alfred Forns/Audubon Photography Awards

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