Obsessed

With my social media fast still raging on, I find myself preoccupied with other forms of entertainment. My latest obsession involves bird web cams.  Yes, I know, web cams can technically be classified as a type of social media, but I assure you, the birds are not tweeting (excuse the pun) or instagraming the life they want us to see. They are just being birds, ruffled feathers and all. They eat. They poop. They squeak and they squawk. And they lay eggs with the hope of at least one chick surviving. It is gritty life and death drama moving in slow motion.

My favorite bird cam is located in Missoula, Montana. It features a pair of ospreys named Louis and Iris. I have followed this cam off and on for a few years so I feel they are my friends (no request required). Iris already lost one mate, Stanley. Ospreys are monogamous so we know Stanley met his demise one winter during their migration southward. Fortunately, Louis took over and he is an excellent provider, which is a good thing as Iris just laid her third egg.

Louis and Iris bicker like any married pair. Whenever Louis attempts to bring large sticks to their nest Iris becomes very opinionated about their placement in her nest and Louis usually is not the winner. Iris also prefers to be the one to incubate their eggs, but she occasionally gives Louis a chance to hunker down gently on their orbs of parenthood. Compromise is the glue of most relationships.

What Louis does best is fish. An osprey's diet consists mainly of live fish. There is a river near their nest so Louis is often gone fishing for Iris. It is an interesting sight to see Louis fly into the nest with a squirming fish. Iris likes to bite off the head of the fish first, going for the tasty bits right away, I guess. She gobbles up her meal and either takes a short break from egg duty or gets right back to her nesting.

I am getting very attached to my osprey friends. Too attached, perhaps. From my years of growing up on a farm, I know the cruel blows life in the natural world can wield. Last year, all three of Iris and Louis's offspring died of starvation. The river nearby rose to flood levels and made it all but impossible for safe fishing for the bird pair. This year, the river is again rising and the same fate could be ahead. And that is why I find authentic bird cams so fascinating. No one is attempting to paint a pretty picture for the viewers. I am not subjected to perfect lives and exotic vacations. Instead, the camera posts the triumph of a well caught fish as well as the potential for heartbreaking tragedy.

I am rooting my avian friends, no matter how this year's chick raising chapter ends. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy watching them carry out their daily duties. One stick and one fish at a time.

Not a bad motto for life.