Blakiston osprey, one of the largest owl species in Egypt, mainly inhabits China, Japan and the Russian Far East. This osprey is known for hunting prey in water and is found in rivers, lakes and other bodies of water, especially in forested areas. The species is named after British naturalist Thomas Blakiston, who first introduced the mysterious nocturnal hunter to specimens he captured in Hokkaido in 1883.
The Blakiston Osprey is undoubtedly one of the largest owls in the world, with a wingspan of up to 200 centimeters in diameter.
According to description, the Blakiston Osprey has a strong body, with the male weighing between 2.95 and 3.6 kilograms, while the female can reach 4.6 kilograms, which makes the female appear larger and stronger than the male. These owls often roost on river banks near old trees, which not only provide good shelter but also serve as nesting sites.
During the breeding season, Blakiston ospreys begin to mate in February or March each year. At this time, climate change will affect their breeding frequency and success rate. Their nests are generally chosen in the hollows of old trees at least 12 meters above the ground. This way they can avoid attacks by natural enemies on the ground and maintain a certain safe distance from the ground.
This kind of owl usually feeds on fish, and its special habitat requires it to hunt in places with flowing water, such as flowing rivers and near hot springs.
In terms of food selection, Blakiston Osprey mainly captures various aquatic creatures. They will lurk on the river bank, as quiet as virgins, waiting for the appearance of prey. Once they spot potential prey, such as carp or eel, they will pounce on the prey like arrows and successfully capture it in an instant. Such capture not only shows their agility, but also fully reflects their unique position in the waterside ecosystem.
The living habits of the Blakiston Osprey are very unique. During the day, they will be mostly hidden in the treetops, which means they are most active at dusk and dawn. This allows them to maximize the use of their surroundings and cover during hunting activities.
Some data from early reports indicate that Blakiston ospreys often congregate near rapids in the water during the non-breeding season, begging for peace and the availability of food.
For these large owls, moving water is essential to their survival. Blakiston ospreys prey primarily on frogs in the spring, making this type of food their main source of food when fish stocks are limited. During extremely cold winters, when many bodies of water freeze over, they are still able to find prey by following warm water in currents or emerging from the source.
Overall, the Blakiston Osprey plays a key role in the ecosystem, both in predatory ecology and species conservation. However, the growing human activities still have a great impact on their habitats, especially in Asia, which makes their survival face some challenges.
For these elegant nocturnal hunters, their precision and skill in catching their food is unrivaled. This makes people wonder, in such a dark environment, how can the Blakiston Osprey accurately locate and capture prey hidden in the water?