…although, I caught a fish. While Orville was still searching, I hooked a one-pound (measured) catfish. After reeling it in, I attempted to keep this a secret from the osprey. He must have suspected something because he flew over and landed on my back while I huddled over the fish.
In a sudden brainstorm born of desperation and mild pain, I decided to just throw the fish onto the dock. As expected, Orville immediately saw this and pounced. He got a good grip initially, sat for a few minutes, then took off straight over the water.
He was able to climb well and maneuvered with no obvious change in his flight. This fish weighed a third of Orville’s body weight (1350g.) He circled back to his perch with the fish and just held it. Until he dropped it.
After this clumsy drop, he floated down off the perch and grabbed it again. As I hoped, he traded off to a large tidbit, and I got the catfish to put in the freezer (at least two full osprey meals.)
The bird is behaving well (other than pecking at my hands or sandaled feet). Orville is flying to tidbits better than other ospreys have. He resists the hood, but I can get it on him and, once on, he tolerates it fine.
I am planning trips to ponds with more fish.