Osprey Watch: Prepositional Phrases on the Lake

The Nest on the Pole

1Every summer morning, Rosa and her uncle Malik paddled their canoe across Silver Lake. Near the far shore stood a tall wooden pole with a flat platform on top. On that platform sat a huge, messy nest of sticks. It belonged to a pair of ospreys, large hawks that catch fish. Uncle Malik said the birds often come back to the same nest each spring and add new sticks to it.

2Rosa watched the nest through her binoculars. Three fuzzy chicks were peeking over the edge. Rosa counted them twice to be sure. Their mother stood beside them with her wings spread wide. "She is shading them from the hot sun," Uncle Malik whispered.

3Suddenly, the father osprey appeared above the water. He circled high over the lake. Then he dove toward the surface feet first. With a loud splash, he plunged into the lake. A moment later, he rose from the water with a silver fish in his claws.

4Rosa held her breath as he flew back to the nest. He carried the fish with its head pointing forward. "That makes the fish easier to carry through the wind," Uncle Malik explained. The father landed on the edge of the nest, and the chicks squeaked with excitement.

5Before lunch, the canoe drifted toward the dock. Rosa took one last look at the platform. The chicks were resting under their mother's wings. "We will come back after breakfast tomorrow," Uncle Malik promised. Rosa smiled all the way home. She could not wait to see the chicks again in the morning.