Learn how this remarkable raptor hunts and nests—and why it matters for our ocean Have you ever seen a sleek, brown-and-white bird hover above the ocean, fold its wings and drop into the water like a cannonball, only to surface seconds later with a fish in its grip? If so, you have probably seen an osprey. A water-loving bird of prey Ospreys are birds of prey, also known as raptors. Birds of prey are carnivorous predators that actively hunt and feed on other animals. However, unlike most birds of prey, the osprey’s diet consists of approximately 99% live fish , including catfish, trout and mackerel. Because of their feeding habits, ospreys, also called sea hawks, have unique traits that make them elite hunters of the sea. Structure and hunting When ospreys spot a fish, they dive from nearly 100 feet in the air. During the dive, they close their nostrils, called nares, to prevent water from entering.…