Osprey against clear sky

Ospreys are the only hawk in North America that eats almost nothing but live fish, and they’re built for it — reversible outer toes and barbed foot pads to grip a slippery catch. September puts this one mid-migration, moving south along the coast.

Why it matters

Osprey numbers collapsed under DDT in the mid-1900s and have recovered strongly since the ban — one of the clearer conservation success stories along this coastline.

Getting the shot

A high shutter speed and a clean sky background made this one mostly about timing the wingbeat.