Times of the Islands Spring 2021

It is January 1, 2021. The day started as an excursion
to see the Pirate Cove with my mum, dad and brother.
This is my fourth visit to Providenciales, but the first time
I am going to the cove. To say the least, 2020 was a
strange year for everyone. After being separated from
my family for an entire year, across three different countries,
we were finally able to reunite over Christmas in the
Turks & Caicos Islands. I was only supposed to stay for a
week, but that week has turned into a month.
I grew up in South Africa but now live in Los Angeles
with my husband. We are both photographers and filmmakers
who love going on adventures and being in nature
observing wildlife. I have been fortunate enough to photograph
many amazing creatures and it is a thrill every
single time.
There is nothing better than starting the year with
a thrill. We arrive at the coordinates on the map. A stoic
osprey is perched on a nearby rock. Admiring the sight, I
think it is just a lucky coincidence. We continue towards
the path to the cove when my dad points out in the distance
a nest with a bird in silhouette. I think to myself,
“That’s beautiful. I wonder how far that is?”
We are exploring the cove when curiosity gets the
better of my mum and me. We decide to venture towards
the nest. Ill-prepared for hiking, we make our way over
the coral rocks in flip flops, fighting 24-knot winds.
There it is. The nest atop its tower.
Looking across the 20-foot gap are the nesting birds
and below them is the tumultuous turquoise ocean. I
must admit, I am nervous as I approach the edge. It is a
far drop and I surmise it would not be a pleasant fall. I get
down onto my stomach and rest the camera against the
ledge so that the lens is completely cantilevered.
It takes a few minutes for the mother osprey to accept
my presence. I wouldn’t say she appreciates it much, but
it’s probably a comfort for her knowing that I can’t get
any closer. The chicks chirp and fluff their feathers as the
mother keeps a beady eye on me.
Suddenly, she starts calling out—loud and aggressively.
I wonder, “Is she calling a mate? Or is she telling
me to back off?”
As I lift my head from the eyepiece, I notice something
in the distance. A wide-winged bird is flying towards us.
It takes me a second to realize that it is the male carrying
a fish in his talons. In a flush I keep repeating in shock, “I
can’t believe this! Mum! He has a fish!! He has a fish!”
He lands in a majestic swoop to chirping chicks. He
hands the fish off to the mother who inspects it as he
stands aside looking around the nest. As quickly as he
landed he takes off, on the hunt again.
We receive a phone call from our hungry father and
brother waiting patiently at the car. I pack up my camera
The mother osprey carefully breaks off small
bits of the fish to feed the hungry chicks.
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