NATURE: Season Of The Osprey

Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with KPBS Passport!

Follow the Struggles and Triumphs of Aquatic Hawks

An osprey soars over a small saltmarsh at the delta of the Connecticut River. From somewhere along the east coast of South America, he has just flown 4,000 miles to the place that is imprinted on his memory since birth, the saltmarsh where he will rejoin his mate. Witness their reunion in NATURE “Season Of The Osprey.”

Foxes, deer, and scores of migrating shorebirds bring summer’s hustle and bustle back to the saltmarsh as the reunited pair mates and broods their eggs. Other osprey parents see their eggs snatched by predators that prowl the night. But this osprey pair is battle-tested. Over the course of one summer, they fend off enemies, catch hundreds of fish, and raise their tiny chicks into the next generation of these consummate sea hawks.

This blue-chip Nature special explores the life of this incredible raptor with a depth and intimacy never before attempted. Shot in and around Great Island Marsh, where the Connecticut River meets the Long Island Sound, filmmaker Jacob Steinberg achieved unlimited access to an osprey nest and offers a rich look at this unique species known for its life-long partnerships, dynamic social interactions and masterful hunting prowess.

“Osprey are beloved birds, and yet they lacked a definitive wildlife film,” said Steinberg. “The moment I began observing the family that would become the film’s iconic subjects, I knew theirs was a story that would resonate with Nature viewers.”

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Female osprey stands guard over her nestlings. Greenwich, Conn.

Courtesy of © Jacob Steinberg

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Sunrise greets female osprey as she incubates her eggs.

Courtesy of © Jacob Steinberg

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Male osprey stands over his mate as she incubates their eggs in the nest. Greenwich, Conn.

Courtesy of © Jacob Steinberg

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Male osprey delivers a stick to the nest as his mate incubates their eggs. Greenwich, Conn.

Courtesy of Michael Fleisch / © Jacob Steinberg

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Close-up of female osprey as she incubates her eggs in the nest. Greenwich, Conn.

Courtesy of © Jacob Steinberg

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Close-up of female osprey as she stands guard over her nest.

Courtesy of © Jacob Steinberg

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Juvenile osprey stands atop his nest.

Courtesy of © Jacob Steinberg

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Juvenile ospreys look up at their mother atop the nest.

Courtesy of © Jacob Steinberg

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Juvenile ospreys practice flapping their wings in the rain as they gain strength for their first flight. Greenwich, Conn.

Courtesy of © Jacob Steinberg

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Credits: NATURE is a production of The WNET Group for PBS. Fred Kaufman is executive producer. Bill Murphy is series producer. A production of The WNET Group and Blue Ant Commissioning USA LLC in association with CosmoVision Media Group, LLC for Love Nature. Peter Hamilton is executive producer for CosmoVision Media Group, LLC. For Love Nature, James Manfull is executive producer. The documentary is filmed and produced by Jacob Steinberg. Written by Janet Hess and edited by Jim Isler. Paul Giamatti narrates.