"my" Osprey

You can see one of the Osprey sailing back to the nest from the left and the other one standing guard like a finial atop the bandstand light pole. The nest this year looks far less substantial than in past years and I am wondering if winds and rain have taken their toll or if the Maintenance Department intervened. I think not as they are a pretty kind bunch who enjoy having the (extremely) few natural diversions about such as the bunnies that roam the grounds near me, too.

I believe there may be a baby in the nest as some of the cries seemed decidedly peepy in nature. I think I saw one teeny head peek above the twig edge but as I was looking into the sunshine I cannot be sure.

What still astounds me is that the Osprey are there at all! Why, when our island is relatively forested, are they nesting upon this light standard? There is a speaker attached to the pole as well, belting out scores and other information relating to the games played immediately below. In the photo you can see members of the high school marching band returning to classes after rehearsing for 40 minutes underneath the nest. The birds came and went, soaring aloft and gliding low as zephyrs carried them away in ever expanding O's, seemingly requiring no wing ballet.
Why have they adapted so well to this busy, bustling, unnatural aerie? The owls in the woods have become tremendously territorial over the past few years, probably responding to a decrease in their available home sites due to more and more human homes being built. They have taken to landing on the heads of any forest walkers, scratching with claws and poking with beaks to sustain their privacy, so maybe the Osprey cannot carve out a safe nesting space? There are a great many bald eagles who live here as well, who's nests are enormous and commonly found if you walk with your eyes to the heavens. Two years ago, as I was on my way to work in the summer, I emerged from an extremely tiny patch of forest that I drive through up a steep hill near my classroom and looked up and saw a moving tapestry of wings, white heads and tails, sailing together southward. I counted 14 bald eagles together, a flotilla of magnificence! I wanted desperately to follow them, but knew it was hopeless for I am not configured to venture alongside. I had a sense they were on business, or celebrating with a cotillion, and reminded myself that intrusion is just that and I've not been invited to join their fraternity.
So I continued on my journey cognizant of having been honored to witness something quite astounding and rare to my eyes.

Kitty Update:
Kitty's back!! Under the porch! Still speaking English with the single Meow, still not accepting food or water, not peeking out, but back! And that is good enough for me :) Resilient, sneaky kitty, worrying us all so. Thank you all so much for your kind words. You were all right, Kitty is more capable than I had given him credit for! You are all so wise. Thank you.

PPS I have not forgotten, as you probably have, that I am remiss in Parts 2 and 3 of my grandfather's story. I am finding it difficult to jump into but am saving it for summer delving to offer justice to his memory and service.