Check out the struggle as the osprey tries to bring the fish out of the water. Once the talons are in the fish, he can't let go! Either the fish drowns the bird...or the bird has lunch.
apparently there is an issue. When the tendon is contracted the ridges on the tendons and the tendon sheaths interlock, creating a kind of "ratchet" effect, enabling the eagle to maintain tremendous pressure on the talons without continuously maintaining the tremendous contraction force on the muscle. As a result, a raptor is able to keep its talons closed over long periods of time while subduing relatively large prey. Sometimes, however, a raptor may become excited and unable to release "the ratchet," causing on occasion, the raptor's death. This is noted with some frequency in young Osprey, who may attempt to take a fish which is large enough to drag the Osprey beneath the water, resulting in drowning.
of course ospreys can let go!! as the naturalist??? Image result for can ospreys let go of fish Ospreys can't swim, so it is rare, but possible for an osprey to drown while trying to catch a fish - likely when a talon is hooked too deeply in a fish big enough to pull them under. ... Barbed pads on their feet help ospreys keep a firm grip, but they can let go of the fish if needed.Mar 27, 2017
