02 Jul George Washington Memorial Parkway: The Fish-Hawk
Competition in the Marsh
The osprey has very quickly become my favorite bird to study and watch. Ospreys are powerful-looking birds of prey that hunt with purpose, patience, and attitude. Every day, I have an opportunity to work in the marsh. I catch myself watching the osprey. Don’t get me wrong, the bald eagles are cool, but something about the osprey draws me in. They aren’t as big as the Eagles, but they are not afraid to pick a fight. Ospreys have a nasty attitude about them and have something to prove in the Dyke Marsh. During my second week in the marsh, I went out on the trail in the morning and had a great time watching the eagles fly around. I also saw a pair of downy woodpeckers; however, there was no sign of osprey. It was noon, and I decided to sit on a stump by the water and have lunch when, out of nowhere, a female osprey landed on a dead tree 30 yards across the water from me. I was enthralled to get such a close look. You can tell the difference by the brown band around the breast of the females, which isn’t present in males. I sat, eating my PB&J, watching the osprey as she surveyed the water for her lunch. Suddenly, she dives bombs into the water talons first. She had caught her lunch while I ate mine. This was a moment I will never forget and a memory I will cherish for a long time.
The legend of the Fish-Hawk
In native american mythology, the Osprey (aka Fish-Hawk) is a bird held on the same pedestal as eagles. The Osprey is looked at as a guardian hawk to coastal tribes. They serve as birds to patrol the land and warn of danger. One interesting story from the Mi’kmaq Nation, who resided on the coast of current-day Maine, depicts the Fish-Hawk as an overly prideful bird. “Fish-Hawk and the Scapegrace” is about an Osprey and an unidentified bird who likes to eat trash and anything on the ground.
“The Scapegrace tells the Fish-Hawk they should be equals. This angers the Fish-Hawk as he answers to nobody except the great eagle. The Scapegrace asks to race the Fish-Hawk; this gives the Fish-Hawk an idea to speed ahead to the village and tell the villagers he is evil and will poison them with his food. When the Scapegrace finally catches up, he goes to the tribe chief, asking for a daughter to marry. The chief tells him no and to go to the raccoon tribe. The Scapegrace goes to the raccoon tribe but is met with disgust by the tribe as the story from the Fish-Hawk has spread. The Fish-Hawk returns to the first tribe and claims that without his insight, they would have all died, and if they were ever to see him fly overhead, they should fear danger is close.”
This is a summarized version of the story, but I found it incredibly interesting. It emphasizes how respected the Osprey is in native american culture. Even when the Osprey is being deceitful, they trust its word.
https://world-bird-sanctuary.blogspot.com/search/label/Micmac%20legend
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