Steven Rossi / Wildlife Photography

Steven Rossi

Steven Rossi Photography: Fine Art Photographer / Wildlife

I moved From New York City to Minnesota to live among the wildlife I love photographing.

Do you have a good tip to share with us?

Spend time with the wildlife you plan to photograph, learn their behaviors so you might anticipate their actions.

After The Storm

Two young ospreys — about a week from being fully fledged — are safely back in their nest after being blown to the ground on Saturday, 7/18/20, at 1:15 AM, by a tornado touching down on an east-central Minnesota lake. They were searched for during the weekend and finally found and rescued by lake resident Ritchie Ronning early Monday morning.

He immediately brought them to be health-checked at The Raptor Center in St Paul. They both were fine. On Tuesday morning they were delivered back to Ritchie by volunteers from both The Raptor Center and Twin Cities Metro Osprey Watch to be placed back where they belong – in the care of their parents. After sticks were raised up to help rebuild the nest, and fish were placed in the nest just in case the parents didn’t quickly return with food for them, then the delicate re-nesting procedure began.

Each young osprey was carefully hoisted up the 32’ span to the nest by rope separately, in a closed canvas bag. The parents stayed watching from the sidelines the entire time we were there – and they even took flight twice in defending their territory when unfamiliar ospreys and eagles flew overhead. After placing the second young osprey in the nest we watched from a distance, and within three hours the parents began interacting normally with their young.

Ritchie took the lead role in their rescue and re-nesting — thank you for a job well done! And thank you for the help and guidance of Terri Headley of The Raptor Center and Vanessa Greene of Twin Cities Metro Osprey Watch!

This occurred at a nesting site that I have been visiting for many years – and each time I feel extremely appreciative to be able to capture the daily activities of generations of beautiful osprey families.

What is in your bag?

Canon 7DM2 with 400 f5.6 on a sturdy tripod, and a Canon 70D with 70-200 f2.8 on a fast BlackRapid Sport X Coyote Camera Sling!

Follow Steven

Website – rossi.photo

Instagram – instagram.com/srofmn

Facebook – facebook.com/srphotomn