Natalie Kitt, age 13, of Poland, Ohio,for her question:

What is an osprey?

This magnificent bird is a member of the hunting hawk family  ¬and his favorite food is fish. He lives in temperate and northern regions by seashores and around inland waterways. Though his numbers have been reduced, he still survives across North America and most of Europe. He may nest around Australia, perhaps on the Great Barrier Reef. He can be found soaring over the Red Sea or over the rich fishing grounds along the coast of Peru.

Soaring in the sky, when the sun glints on his snowy crest, the osprey might be mistaken for a smallish American eagle. Both are great birds of prey of the falcon order, both soar above seashores and inland waters. However, there are signs to show which is which. The American, or bald, eagle does not get his snowy head feathers for perhaps seven years when he is fully grown and his wide, mighty wings spread six or seven feet wide.

The fully grown osprey has narrower wings that span about six feet at most. His head and underside are white. Unlike the American eagle, he wears a ribbon of dark feathers from his keen yellow eye to the dark plumage on his back. The osprey is blessed with more efficient talons, and this makes a great deal of difference to the hunting habits of these great falcons.

The osprey is one of the bird world's most talented fishermen. For hours he perches on a rocky ledge or high in a tall tree, scanning the scenery far and near. When ready to feed, he spreads his great wings and soars over the water.

When his keen golden eyes spot a frisky fish of the right size, he moves down to 50 or 100 feet and circles around the target. Suddenly he swoops in a spectacular dive, which usually ends with a mighty splash. Your eyes might report that he dives head first. But slow motion 1974 pictures show that at the last moment his feet swing down    and nine times out of ten he comes up grabbing a fish in his talons.

This is a very good average for any fisherman. What's more, the fish has no chance to escape. The insides of the osprey's talons are spiked with scaly spines which enable him to get an unshakable grip on even the most slippery fish. When fish are scarce, he may catch a rodent or even a chicken.

The osprey's enemies include raccoons and eagles, who rob the nest. However, the American eagle often steals the osprey's catch. Unfortunately the eagle is a poor fisherman. So, being a larger bird, he often steals fish from the osprey, either on the wing or on the ground.

Osprey parents perch their large shaggy nest in a tall tree or on a lofty ledge. Mrs. 0. lays three brown freckled eggs and broods on them for five long weeks. The proud male bird guards the nest and brings home fish dinners for the mother and her hungry chicks. The young ospreys are ready to take their first fishing lessons when about two months old.