Lost my first hen okay, help I'd the culprit!

[cwazybc]

I free range my flock of 29 daily; they mostly stay in the forest/underbrush, but thy do also wander to a grassy area near my back field. I came home this evening to find my flock in an uproar... As I went out to see what was going on, I see a very large (standing at least 24 inches) bird looking at me over a pile of feathers. The bird was primarily white, with grey speckled wings and breast. I live in southeastern Wisconsin and have NEVER seen a bird of prey like this, or this size. Any idea?

 

[cwazybc]

Sorry for title of this post... My ipad likes to self correct my spelling!

 

[richarddhoward]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Osprey_mg_9605.jpg/220px-Osprey_mg_9605.jpg

Did it look like this? I was about 30 minutes west of Madison, I have family there, and there was a few of these buggers around. It is an osprey. We have there here in the PNW as well. They are beautiful creatures, and protected species, but there are ways to keep them at bay