Page 5 - PGA Community News - August '20

August 2020 August 2020 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 5

Northern Notes

Outstanding Ospreys that eats live fish almost exclusively, with approximately
80 fish species making up nearly 100 percent of its diet.
By Katie Roundtree, The raptor can dive as deep as three feet into the water for
Finance Director, Northern fish, but prefers to hunt in shallower areas. When carrying
Palm Beach County their prey back to the nest, ospreys will arrange the fish
Improvement District so that it is upright, head forward to ease wind resistance.
Ospreys are beautiful Ospreys are great anglers—successful in one out of four
birds that are often mistaken dives for fish! Because of this appetite, these birds can
for other kinds of hawks or be found near ponds, rivers, lakes and coastal waterways
eagles. White undersides around the world. It is the only raptor that plunges or dives
and a crook in its narrow into the water feet first to catch fish with its talons.
wings, distinguish this bird Ospreys construct their nests at the tops of dead trees,
as it soars above the water. atop power poles, on man-made nesting platforms and
Adults are dark brown sometimes on buoys, chimneys, or other structures. The
above with brownish-black marks on the wings and nests are most often used year after year and can become
brown speckling on the breast. The head is white with a up to 10 feet high as more nesting material is added each
dark brown crown and a brown streak down the cheek. breeding season. Ospreys usually mate for life.
It is a very distinctive fish-hawk, formerly classified An osprey can live 15 to 20 years. The oldest known
with other hawks but now placed in a separate family of was just over 25 years old. During that long lifetime, the
its own. This species is also known as the river hawk, Source: Birdsoftheworld.org migratory birds can travel over 160,000 miles. In fact,
fish hawk or sea hawk. It is considered a raptor, or bird in 2008, an osprey being tracked by researchers flew
of prey, since it is carnivorous. Ospreys are sometimes part of a single species, with the exception of the eastern an amazing 2,700 miles in just 13 days, traveling from
confused with bald eagles, but can be identified by their osprey which is native to Australia. The osprey species Massachusetts to French Guiana, South America!
white underparts. Eagles and ospreys frequent similar is at least 11 million years old and is so well adapted to These birds are unique raptors, built for hunting and
habitats and sometimes compete for food. Eagles often fishing that it has evolved unique characteristics that set can be spotted around our waterways. Keep a lookout for
force ospreys to drop fish that they have caught and then it apart from other raptor species. They have nostrils that these beautiful birds next time you’re outside.
steal them in midair. can be closed during dives as well as an oily waterproof Sources: mnn.com, fws.gov, nationalgeographic.com
These birds are the second most widely distributed coating on their wings. An osprey’s outer toe is reversible, NPDES tip: Planting a rain garden with native plants
raptor species, after the peregrine falcon, and can be found which means they can carry prey (slippery fish) with two around your home helps lock rain water in the ground,
on every continent except Antarctica. What is even more toes in front and two toes behind. reducing the flow of pollutants and poisons into the drains.
interesting is that all of the ospreys around the world are The osprey is the only hawk species in North America Using organic fertilizers and pesticides in your garden
further protects and brings health to your yard and all the
species living there.
Community Safety

By Keith Echols, place of interest for those with criminal intent. To reduce
Director of Security, your chance of becoming the next victim, make sure
Allied Universal your home is alarmed and secured when not in use. Garage sales/yard
I hope this article finds you all in good spirits and in Make sure your vehicle is secured and no valuables are
good health. As we all continue to make adjustments in left in sight. If you do not already have them, consider sales are NOT
our lives because of COVID-19, we must continue to adding surveillance cameras to your home. We are here
be vigilant within our community. Criminals and their with you and together we can make a difference.
activities continue to play a role in our everyday life, Never hesitate to call security at (561) 627-1600, if allowed in
even during a pandemic. you see something say something. Report all suspicious sales
Over the past few months, security has received and people and activities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to PGA National.
responded to service calls for packages missing after all that have been personally affected by this virus. You
being delivered, burglarized vehicles, stolen vehicles, are encouraged to avoid the three C’s to help prevent
and suspicious people within the community. Not in the spread of the coronavirus. Avoid closed spaces
large numbers or anything to panic over. with poor ventilation, crowed places, and close-contact
However, it is a reminder that PGA National is a settings.

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