For the past two months we have watched a pair of Ospreys on the daymarker at Pomonkey Creek in Charles County raising their two chicks.  The most interesting observation to us has been the difference in parenting styles.  The male is a strict disciplinarian.  Before the eggs were hatched he would arrive at the nest and immediately settle onto them and remain almost motionless until relieved by the female.  The female upon arrival would begin extensive nest arranging, egg rolling, etc. until she would finally set on them, but a constant fidget.  Once the eggs hatched, the male would arrive and again immediately settle on top of them.  The female would never stop moving; checking each one again and again, fussing with the nest, lifting a wing to glance at her darlings.  As soon as we thought she would settle down, she would find something else to examine and adjust.  Two weeks after the hatch as they started to stick their heads above the nest, he discouraged same and would sit on them to keep them down, or shove their heads back when they appeared from underneath him.  Mother would examine each feather and carefully move so the little critters could get a better view.  Now that they are larger and are beginning to get their flight feathers, dad has begun to be less authoritarian and spends his time finding new wonderful pieces for the nest and of course, fishing.  

Their behavior seems to be linked to their appearance.  He never has a feather out of place.  We call him "Slick" because his head feathers are always smooth against his head as if waxed in place.  She, "Boss", is the epitome of the bad hair day.  She looks windblown on the calmest of days, and always has the look of having just endured some disaster.  

John Staples