Osprey

The osprey was once one of my favorite birds (the honors still go to the cedar waxwing). I had never been this close to one before today. Just look at those talons! I understand the bottoms of their feet are padded so they can hold fish easily while they fly. They turn the fish head first so they are more aerodynamic in flight. Eagles will sometimes make them drop the fish so they can steal them and they grab the falling fish out of the air!