The Pike County Times, Pike County Georgia, Orphan Ospreys


Stoops is full-grown now though flight is not very good yet.	Stoops with outstretched wings.

A Tale of Three Ospreys
Weeks 5 and 6

Houston, this is osprey control..... Stoops has achieved liftoff!!

While the headline sounds glamorous, the flight was not. Stoops is making short flights, eight to ten feet, from the ground to a perch and vice versa.

Her weight is now at 3 pounds. She is consuming 3-4 fish daily, each weighing between 1 to 2 pounds. Most remarkable are her feet as she has now grown into them. All of her pin feathers and baby feathers have been replaced with real flying feathers. Best of all, she is demonstrating a healthy aversion to people.

Next week, she will be moving into a huge open air flight pen overlooking a pond. It's her time to learn where fish come from! The pond area is in an undisclosed location to prevent her from making the connection of food to people.

It is against Federal (US Fish and Wildlife Service) regulations and State (Department of Natural Resources) regulations for the public to tour a wildlife rehabilitation facility. We have to respect these regulations because these agencies issue our permits. The goal of rehab is to return the raptors to the wild so it is essential for them to have minimum contact with people.

In the past, we have experienced angry responses from donors who felt that they were entitled to tours because of their financial contibutions. We have held to the standards of the regulations in spite of their dissatisfaction and withdrawal of financial support.

Raptors, eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, and vultures are the most expensive wildlife to rehabilitate. The Feds and the State have adopted standards of size with which compliance is mandatory. Squirrels and songbirds can be rehabilitated in small enclosures for release. The smallest raptor enclosures are 8 feet by 8 feet and it is for the tiny screech owls. All other flight pens increase in size up to 100 feet long by 16 feet wide by 20 feet tall.

The wood used in construction must be untreated to prevent chemical injuries to the raptors. All of our flight pens are hand-treated with a water based preservative. The treatment is necessary to protect the outside of the flight pens from the heat and humidity of Georgia weather.

In 2006, our reports indicate that between January 1st and December 31st, we received 54 raptors into rehab. When this is averaged into the expenses, it comes to about $317.00 per raptor. Since Hurricane Katrina, our donations have dwindled to next to nothing. Why do we continue on? If not me, then who? There is no magical government hope chest at the end of a rainbow.

These raptors are part of our heritage. They are part of the heritage and future of Georgia. They control the rodents and other populations much more effectively than any synthetic chemicals. Most remarkably, they are willing to live with us in spite of our encroachments on their hunting grounds and breeding areas.

This program survives on the donations of regular people like you. If not you, then who?

100% of all donations goes directly into rehab and release. Unlike many 501(c)3 non-profits, we do not use donations for salaries.

Bubba and Friends, Inc.
PO Box 103
Zebulon, Georgia 30295

submitted 8.9.07

[Note from the Editor: I got up close and personal with Stoops and she did not like it at all. She kept turning her back to me on the perch and at the end of her photo session, I got to witness an amazing sight. Stoops had a tailwind that hit her backside just right as she was turning on her perch. She turns by flapping her wings to aid in her balance and just as she was turning around, she took to the air.

Stoops flew 300 yards or so to land in a nearby field. It was obvious that she was stunned by the flight and even walked a couple of steps towards Steve Hicks with a dazed look in her eyes as if to say, "What was that?!" And it was just my luck that she startled us so bad that I didn't get it on film!

Needless to say, there will be no more up close photo sessions where I can take pictures of Stoops staring at her feet and wondering about how they work, but we'll see about getting some film with Stoops learning where fish come from. Stoops really did like to stare at her feet a lot, much like babies who discover that there is something beside their hands to put in their mouths.

Every little bit helps in an organization like this. A $10 check combined with other $10 and $25 checks can help with the rehabilitation of Stoops and other raptors native to Georgia. You can get an up-close experience with these magnificent birds by scheduling a wildlife educational program for a birthday party or other special occasion by calling Steve and Angela Hicks from Bubba and Friends, Inc. at 770-567-1852.]


Stoops checks out her surroundings while standing on a glove.	Stoops has cool feet. There are suckers on the bottom of her feet to hold onto the fish when she eventually learns catch fish out of the water.



The osprey stands on the ground and dares me to come closer to her. I was too close for comfort as it was. Read the story below to find out her name and why Angie and Steve think this osprey is a female.	She is almost full-grown. Her baby fuzz is pretty much gone except for that left beneath the feathers on her back. She has filled out nicely, but she is still wild and is not fond of human contact.

A Tale of Three Ospreys
Week 4

The orphan osprey continues to astonish all with its growth. Based on its size, we are reasonably sure it is a "she". In the world of birds of prey, females are larger than the males.

After weeks of referring to the osprey as "the orphan", she has finally gotten a name. It is a name that describes some of her juvenile actions, her future flying skill, and is the last name of a big fan of hers: Stoops.

Stoops the osprey stoops down to walk under a perch rather than go over it. In flight, she will go into a stoop (a kind of dive) when she goes after fish. Judy Stoops of Suwannee, Georgia is a big fan. So Stoops it is!

Stoops is currently eating 2-3 fish daily. The fish average 9-10 inches in length. She has yet to start tearing fish on her own. Amazingly she can find a piece of fish dropped in the sticks of the nest and move the sticks around to procure her morsel. Her scream is very shrill and irritating to the human ear. She doesn't know when to use her "inside voice". We all look forward to her voice control as she matures.

Stoops is getting close to that first flight. Solid footing seems more comfortable to her than a leap into the air. If our guess about her age is correct, she should lumber into the sky for short distances at any time. Research indicates osprey young usually take their first flight when they are 58-60 days old. We are close.

Houston, we have countdown for the Stoops launch....

submitted 7.12.07

Note from the Editor: Stoops cannot be handled without gloves anymore. She likes to bite at fingers and her talons are long and sharp and perfect for grabbing fish out of the water. She does flap her wings and fall backwards a little, but she is not really into flying yet. That will probably happen during the next week. These pictures were taken on July 10th.

State and federal regulations do not allow public viewing of these animals while they are being rehabilitated. However, Bubba and Friends, Inc. does give educational programs at festivals, at birthday parties or other special events, and at the upcoming Harry Potter event featuring Al the Owl at Barnes and Noble Bookstore on Mt. Zion Road on July 20th. See the article on the home page for the date and time if you want a picture with Al. You can contact Steve and Angela Hicks from Bubba and Friends, Inc. at 770-567-1852 if you are interested in an educational program.

Bubba and Friends, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is rehabilitating birds of prey into the wild. The facility is not open for public tours in order to comply with state and federal regulations.

Bubba and Friends, Inc. operates on private donations and receives no state or federal assistance. Donations can be sent to:

Bubba and Friends, Inc.
P.O. Box 103
Zebulon, Georgia 30295.


Stoops is magestic. Her feathers are puffed out in this picture as a defensive measure.	Her growth is evident during the past month as you compare pictures from Week 1 to this picture.



The osprey stands its ground as I take pictures from a short distance away. The feathers are standing up on the back of its head and neck.	Imagine holding a flapping 2 1/2 pound osprey for part of photo session. It has grown a great deal since the last photo session.

A Tale of Three Ospreys
Week 3

It's been another week of ups and downs with the ospreys. The oldest one continues to put on weight and demonstrate rigor on its flight attempts.

On Sunday morning, June 17, the younger of the two remaining ospreys began throwing up up his food. Before intervention could be initiated, he died. A whirlwind of activity followed.

Note were reviewed and discussions revisited. We now have experienced two deaths with unusual circumstances. Over the next two days, we consulted with every resource available. One vet suggested a possible cause of death that all of us had overlooked.

When the nest toppled from the tree, approximately 40 feet up in the air, the impact of the water could have caused internal injuries to soft tissue. These injuries would not have been visible on x-ray. This would explain the sudden onset of problems and rapid demise.

We will continue to work with the remaining osprey until he is released. His wieght is now 2 1/2 pounds.

Bubba and Friends, Inc. operates on private donations and receives no state or federal assistance. Donations can be sent to:

Bubba and Friends, Inc.
P.O. Box 103
Zebulon, Georgia 30295.

submitted 7.1.07

Note from the Editor: This osprey screeched at me during this visit as it has on the previous two visits. It is not fond of human contact and Steve Hicks mentioned that it occasionally goes after fingers as well as the food that is being held out for it.

Human contact with this osprey is being minimized during its rehabilitation so it can be released back into the wild. It tolerates humans because it has to have food. It is easy for me to remember that it is a wild animal and not a pet that can be shown off to others. The talons and beak are vivid reminders that it will eventually be released into the wild.

I have been asked if the public can view these animals at their current location. As the article above states very plainly, the answer to that question is no. State and federal regulations do not allow public viewing of these animals while they are being rehabilitated.

However, Bubba and Friends, Inc. does give educational programs at festivals, at birthday parties or other special events, and at the upcoming Harry Potter event featuring Al the Owl at Barnes and Noble Bookstore on Mt. Zion Road on July 20th. You can contact Steve and Angela Hicks from Bubba and Friends, Inc. at 770-567-1852 if you are interested in an educational program.


This osprey stands fierce and proud.	Note that the baby fuzz is gone and feathers are in its place.



The picture on the left shows this osprey as it eats. It is still being fed with pieces of fish on a pair of forceps. It won't be long until Steve and Angela will be able to toss food to it and it eat on its own.	The picture on the right is of the strongest sibling as it walked on the ground. Notice the feathers on the back of its head are standing up--sort of like a dog raising its hackles.

A Tale of Three Ospreys
Week 2

The osprey babies currently weigh 24 ounces each (a pound and a half) and yet their size is almost equal to an adult redtail hawk. Appetites are increasing daily. By summer's end, they should achieve their six foot wingspan and glide easily into the big blue.

Ospreys (Pandion Haliaetus) are also known as sea eagles or sea hawks. They are members of the eagle family and subject to the same hazards that affect Golden and Bald Eagles. Ospreys usually lay their three eggs in the nest over a period of days. The delay benefits the parents by reducing the food needed to feed the babies.

Unfortunately, this usually results in the early death of the youngest osprey as the older siblings dominate the food. Incubation time on the eggs is between 28 and 33 days. The young will take flight between 51 and 59 days after hatching.

Flight speed is not as spectacular as the peregrine falcon. Ospreys flight speed will max out around 80 miles per hour. They fly as fast as they need to.

In 1975, a banded (USFWS band) osprey was found dead in Herring Creek, Deleware. The recorded band number indicated that the osprey was 32 years old. Most probably live much shorter lives.

The orphan ospreys are beginning to flex their wings and pay close attention to their environment.

On Thursday, June 14, the orphans and their friends experienced a terrible afternoon. The youngest of the three died. It was truly a shock as the youngest voice in the "clucking" choir went silent.

The remaining two ospreys are under even closer observation for weight loss or other difficulties.

submitted 6.18.07

Note from the Editor: I went to visit with Steve and Angela Hicks of Bubba and Friends, Inc. on Friday, June 15, 2007 in order to do an update on the ospreys. The oldest osprey was placed on the ground outside so I could get pictures while it ate and screeched at me. Steve told me that they have to position his pen in a manner that it cannot see them in the house or outside because it screeches to be fed any time that it sees them.

The pictures will show that this baby has grown in its wing feathers and most of its baby fuzz is gone. It is huge at a distance of a foot or so away from me and it did not like me taking pictures of it all. But the public will appreciate its beauty and I hope you will also appreciate the job that Bubba and Friends, Inc. is doing in the rehabilitation of raptors in our area. It is not an easy job to keep this little one fed.

The two remaining ospreys have been placed in separate cages. The oldest one is outside and seems to be doing fine. The middle osprey is inside for observation.

The story from Week 1 is below. It contains contact information for Bubba and Friends, Inc. for contributions as well. We will continue with weekly articles on the ospreys until they are released into the wild.


This osprey has grown a great deal since last week. Compare its feathers in this picture to the picture located below the story from last week. Steve had a time holding the bird because it was constantly flapping its wings.	The osprey was pretty fierce as it stood there shrieking at me for taking pictures and wanting to be fed. It cannot fly yet but won't be too long until it can fly. It was somewhat intimidating to take pictures with sharp talons and beak this close. It was a constant reminder that this is a wild creature and not a pet.



The picture on the left was taken as Steve is hand-feeding one of the weaker siblings. Those talons are sharp and he held them with one hand while feeding this baby osprey.	The picture on the right is of the strongest sibling that ate bits of fish from the end of a pair of forceps and shrieked when it wasn't eating.

A Tale of Three Ospreys

Three orphan Ospreys arrived in Pike County on June 6, 2007. The babies were recovered from a lake near Lake Sinclair in Central Georgia.

Ospreys are sea eagles and spend their lives around large bodies of water. Usually found on the Georgia coast, they have moved up the rivers into the heart of Georgia. There are nesting pairs on the Flint River in Pike County.

Ospreys build nests year after year in the same tree. Some nests may weigh hundreds or even thousands of pounds. The three orphans were in a tree that died as a result of the weight of the massive nest. A large limb supporting the nest broke and the nest--complete with its passengers--slid, totally intact, into the lake.

Observers on the scene were treated to the sight of frantic parents trying to feed their floating babies. All observing ceased as a large snapping turtle made is way into the floating nest and a rescue was initiated.

The orphans were transported to a veterinarian in Milledgeville to be checked out for injuries. After their exam, they were transported en masse to Bubba and Friends, Inc. near Zebulon, Georgia. Bubba and Friends is the only raptor rehabilitation facility with people capable of handling eagles in central Georgia.

Orphan ospreys have voracious appetites and consume large amounts of food. Fully grown, the wingspan will reach approximately six feet from wingtip to wingtip.

Bubba and Friends, Inc. operates on private donations and receives no state or federal assistance. Donations can be sent to:

Bubba and Friends, Inc.
P.O. Box 103
Zebulon, Georgia 30295.

Submitted 6.9.07

Note from the Editor: I interviewed Steve Hicks and took pictures of the ospreys on the day after they arrived in Pike County. On their fourth feeding of the day, only one of the ospreys was eating without help. "It is pretty incredible that all three babies survived the fall," Steve said. Nests are normally 30 or 40 feet up in the air and composed of tree limbs.

Steve had to feed the strongest osprey with bits of fish from a pair of forceps. They other two had to be hand fed. In a real life situation, one or more of the weaker offspring would probably have been pushed from the nest so the stronger osprey could receive more food from the parents.

The strongest of the three ospreys looked pretty menacing as I took pictures. With talons as long as my little finger and a sharp beak that emitted piercing shrieks to be fed, I let Steve do his work and only got as close as I had to. The only time this baby was quiet was when it was eating bits of fish. You can see that the osprey did not appreciate the flash of my camera from the pictures.

Look at the pictures and you can see that these babies still have baby fuzz with some feathers that have grown in. If the three were spread wingtip to wingtip, they would probably stand higher than 6 feet tall. Steve told me that when they get big enough to release into the wild, they will have role models to follow in our area.

If anyone would like to donate some fresh fish to Steve and Angela for the ospreys, give them a call at 770-567-1852. These babies will need a 100 foot flight pen so donations would be appreciated in that endeavor. The flight pen will cost over $5,000 because of the special materials that are needed for the birds.

Bubba and Friends is the same group that just gave a program at the library for the summer reading kickoff. I will provide weekly updates and pictures of the ospreys as they grow and eventually are released into the wild.


This osprey's feathers stand out from the fuzz on its body.	Steve holds the osprey's talons while it eats a bit of fish.

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