Ospreys (Pandoin haliaetus) are birds of prey whose diet consists primarily of fish caught in the shallow water of rivers, bays, sounds, lakes, and ditches. But they also eat a wide variety of food, such as snakes, squirrels, other birds and much more. They’re sometimes known as fish hawks, sea hawks or even river hawks. Osprey are common sights throughout the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, where they often nest close to open water, in the tops of trees with dead crowns. Their nests are made of large branches, vines, stick & just about any scrap material. Some osprey are residents, while others are long distance migrants that winter in Central and South America.