High above a lake of beauty,
Is an Osprey nest, with a post for sentry duty,
Inside were laid three speckled eggs,
That soon became three adorable Ospreys.
Their parents were exceptional feeders,
Rachel and Steve, a pair of great breeders,
Peace and order abided in the nest on the pole,
Each parent was diligent with their assigned role.
The feasting was good, the weather a bit dicey,
The hatchlings grew strong and a wee bit feisty,
Yet all the while they were safe and serene,
Overlooking the boats in their sanctuary scene.
They were banded and named Pan, Poole and Pia,
And cheered on by thousands in the online arena,
Loved they were and into our hearts they flew,
All eyes were upon them and whatever they’d do.
Then the time came for each one to fly,
Pan and Poole practiced, while Pia, stood by,
To a troller in the water flew Pan and Poole,
Pia watched from the nest; ” fools do what they do.”
For she was always there when it was time to eat,
She grabbed that fish in the talons of her feet,
She wasn’t about to miss a good flounder,
And with a full crop she slept ever sounder.
She took her pose on the weathered post,
Pia exercised her wings, but that was the most,
Then one day she up and flew to the troller,
To join Pan and Poole and boy, did they holler!
Yet Pia would always return to the nest,
Even with wings, it was the place she loved best,
She spent time with Mom in the noon day sun,
And watched the sunset when the day was done.
Yes, Pia loved fish and grew quite round,
She preened, but siblings were South America bound!
With Mom gone with them, it was just Pia and Dad,
He supplied her with big fish and she ate all he had!
And just as we were beginning to wonder if she’d leave,
She flew off one September morning with Dad Steve,
With bittersweet tears, farewell Pia, we all say,”So long!”,
To the littlest Osprey who grew up healthy and strong.
Next year, Rachel and Steve will return to the nest,
And raise more Ospreys that Nature will test,
In lovely Bremen, Maine, on their Hog Island home,
And there they will stay ’til it’s time for them to roam.
9-15-2014 Janice Tindle
janicetindle 