Along with wading birds, there were quite a few osprey (Pandion haliaetus) flying around near Manatee Springs State Park. It’s the time of year when these birds are nesting and feeding the nestlings is hard work. The young grow very quickly and that requires lots of food supplied by the parent birds. Like many other birds of prey, osprey do most of their hunting from the sky. Using their keen vision and strong flight capabilities they can spot fish from high in the air and can dive down, grabbing them out of the water. Some of the fish that they catch are amazingly large and just lifting them up out of the water requires strong wings and even stronger will power. When it comes time to call it a day, osprey can be equally determined to get back to that nest and family. Or at least so it seemed watching this one making a bee line through the air and at a pretty good pace. Even after it got out of shooting range, I watched as it disappeared into the trees lining the opposite side of the river. I was impressed with its determination and concentration on its goal. I wonder if that’s how I look when headed home after a day at the office.