Ospreys In Alabama

--photo by Captain Troy Frady

Alabama Ospreys are commonly found along the coastal areas of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.   They are raptors and are the ultimate fish hawk.   They have waterproof feathers and can hover over their prey until ready to catch it.

Being a charter fishing guide in Orange Beach, Alabama comes with a lot of perks.   We get to see things in nature that rival some of the seven wonders of the world.   From time to time, we see Bald Eagles, Hawks and Owls flying over but the real treat is when you see an Alabama Osprey.   They are also known as a Fish Hawk.

Seeing Eagles and Ospreys can be a common sight when driving around Gulf State Park and surrounding Alabama Coastal areas, you often see their nests in a single dead tree or on an old telephone pole with a box on the top.

Alabama Ospreys have a hooked beak and big feet with sharp talons.  The hooked beak and sharp claws help the Ospreys catch and eat their food.   The are the ultimate raptor that lives along the Alabama coastline.   You see them a lot in the mornings flying along with a fresh fish in hanging from their talons.

Alabama Osprey’s have the ability to hover over their prey until they decide to dive in and catch it.  We hear stories from time to time that Ospreys drown because they catch live fish that are larger than they can carry, thus keeping them in the water.  Their claws are long (1” to 1 ½”) and do not retract after they grab their prey.

Ospreys have waterproof feathers.  The Osprey pictures on this page were taken by Captain Troy Frady on the Distraction Charter Boat in Orange Beach.  

We hope you enjoyed reading about Alabama's Gulf Coast Bird of Prey.