RI Osprey Monitoring Program

1. RI Osprey Monitoring Program Volunteers Protecting Osprey of Rhode Island

2. Agenda Welcome! Please sign in on a clipboard • Introductions • Osprey • Osprey Natural History • Osprey Monitoring Program Review • Training Guide • Questions

3. Osprey – Why All the Fuss? • Surveys in the 1940’s estimated +/-1000 nests between New York and Boston. • Osprey populations began their decline in the 50’s and 60’s because of DDT • In 1972 there were only 8 nests in RI.

4. Osprey – Why All the Fuss?

5. Osprey – Why All the Fuss? • Osprey serve as ecosystem sentinels, not only providing valuable information about the local population but also about conditions of their habitat. • Their almost exclusive diet of fish make them extremely vulnerable to changes in their habitat and food sources. • Citizen science monitoring of Osprey provides continual, valuable information.

6. Osprey Natural History • Bird of Prey • Feed primarily on fish • Nest near bodies of open, shallow water • Nest on utility poles, cell towers, channel markers, trees and man-made platforms • Nesting begins in April • Incubation Period 36–42 days • Nestling Period 50–55 days • Chicks in June!

7. Osprey Natural History • Osprey(Pandionhaliaetus)Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae • John James Audubon characterized the Osprey as “so unique that the description of them can not fail to be interesting” • Since the Osprey feeds almost entirely on live fish, it is also known as the Fish Hawk. • Threats: Human development, eagles, Great-horned owls, racoons, weasels

8. Osprey Adaptations • Closable nostrils to keep out water during dives • Reversible outer toes allowing it to grasp a fish firmly with two talons in front and two in back. • Sharp spicules on the underside of the toes • Backwards-facing scales on the talons which act as barbs to help hold its catch. • Dense plumage which is oily and prevents its feathers from getting waterlogged.

9. Osprey Adaptations • Occasionally, the osprey may prey on rodents, rabbits, hares, amphibians, other birds and small reptiles. • Oldest NA male + 25, female = 23

10. Osprey Calls • Ospreys have high-pitched, whistling voices. • Flight calls: Slow succession of chirps • Alarm call: Chirps strung together into a series that rises in intensity and then falls away, similar to the sound of a whistling kettle taken rapidly off a stove. This type of call is most often given as an unfamiliar Osprey approaches the nest. As the perceived threat increases, the call can build in intensity to a wavering squeal. • https://youtu.be/f6UFcbJFwk0

11. Osprey Distribution • Osprey are found near fresh and saltwater systems (ocean, lake, pond, stream, etc…) that support their primary prey: fish. • The Osprey is unusual in that it is a single living species that occurs nearly worldwide - on every continent except Antarctica . • Even the few subspecies are not unequivocally separable. There are four generally recognized subspecies, although differences are small.

12. Osprey Distribution (From Westport, Mass.) • Breeding males have hunting ranges that they stick pretty close to and that are distinct from one another. • At night, males roost well away from the nest until the chicks approach fledgling age, then they’ll roost closer to the nest. • The only juvenile tracked went north to Canada in September before turning southbound. • NE males winter in Cuba, Columbia, Bahamas, Venezuela, and on the Bolivia/Brazil border. • A storm propelled one returning Osprey offshore in late March and while he survived, he lost almost a week and also the platform and female he was returning to because a different male got there first.

13. Range Map Help Osprey Range Map

14. Range Map Help Osprey Range Map

15. Osprey Adaptations

16. Osprey Protection & Status • The species has never been formally listed as endangered or threatened by the U.S. DOI. It was designated an "ecologically sensitive" species by the U.S. Forest Service. • In 1973 • The bird is protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which provides protection for all birds of prey. • According to the 2016 IUCN Red List assessment: • Population trend is increasing • Rating: Least Concern • Generation length = 11.6 years • Threats: energy production(wind), human disturbance, pollution, forestry

17. Osprey Calendar: NE • Mid – Late March returning males arrive, pick out a nest site or refresh a previous one. Females arrive shortly after and help prepare nest. Pairs will review sited together, esp. failed breeders who may build again in August. • April – mid-May: First time breeders arrive • April – June: Eggs laid (clutch = 2-4 eggs) • Apr – Jun: Incubation is 30-40 days (Male feeds female) • Late May – June: Chicks born • Late July – August: Offspring fledge (50-55 days after hatching) • Late August – September: Osprey begin their migration south. Adults leave 1st , then juveniles.

18. Monitor Calendar • April thru August – Check nests very week to document success or failure at each stage of breeding (residency, incubation, brooding, hatch, and fledge). • Early April: Document how many pairs have returned to nest and at what platforms. A few females will already be incubating this early. • Mid April: Document incubation and food delivery behavior. • May: Begin counting chicks in the nest. Weather plays a role in chick survival. • Mid-June into August: Observe chick development, document # of fledglings. • August – Early September: Document departure of adults and fledglings.

19. Brief Osprey Population History • 1950s – 100 pair of Osprey observed on Narragansett Bay • 1950-1970 Use of DDT • 1967 - Nest sites in RI declined to 2-11 breeding pair • 1972 – DDT banned in USA; Listed as Endangered by USFW • 1977 - RIDEM began monitoring all known nest sites in RI • 1977 - 11 Active nests, 0 fledged Osprey • 1983 – Osprey downgraded to Threatened by USFW • 1999 - Osprey downgraded to Special Concern by USFW • 2000 – 55 Nests Recorded around RI • 2010 - Audubon took over monitoring • 2013 - 138 active nests, 168 fledged Osprey • 2014 - 127 Active Nests, 186 fledged Osprey • 2015 – 156 Active Nests, 239 fledged Osprey • 2016 – 159 Active Nests, 297 fledged Osprey • 2017 – 145 Active Nests, 226 fledged Osprey • 2018 - 166 Active Nests, 275 fledged Osprey

20. Program Goals • The primary goal of the monitoring program is to document the breeding success of Osprey in Rhode Island. Breeding success is determined by the number of observed fledglings. • The status of each nest is also tracked: No nest, Inactive nest, Housekeeping behavior, Active nest & Successful nest • Document milestones • Report findings

21. Resources for Monitors • “Home” of the program = www.riosprey.info • Volunteer Monitor Training Guide • Explains why we monitor • Explains guidelines for monitoring and reporting • Brief natural history of the osprey • Osprey identification • Provides tips for monitoring • Website with blog & photos

22. Program Website • A website and blog that serves two functions: It facilitates our volunteers’ involvement and keeps the general public informed about the project: • www.riosprey.info • Informational material • Nest site map • Blog • Links

23. Osprey Identification • Usually weigh 3-4 lbs • 2’ in length with a 6’ wing span • Mostly dark plumage on top and white underneath • Black sharply curved bill • Adults have a yellow iris, Juveniles have orange iris • Females typically larger than males • Feet are white with black talons

24. Osprey Identification

25. Osprey Identification • The sexes appear fairly similar, but the adult male can be distinguished from the female by its slimmer body and narrower wings. The breast band of the male is also weaker than that of the female, or is non-existent, and the underwing coverts of the male are more uniformly pale. It is straightforward to determine the sex in a breeding pair, but harder with individual birds.[23 • The juvenile osprey may be identified by buff fringes to the plumage of the upperparts, a buff tone to the underparts, and streaked feathers on the head. During spring, barring on the underwings and flight feathers is a better indicator of a young bird, due to wear on the upperparts.[22] • In flight, the osprey has arched wings and drooping "hands", giving it a gull-like appearance.

26. Bird Identification • At 18 months, osprey achieve their full adult plumage. • Juvenile osprey resemble the adults, but have buff tipped feathers on the back of their upper body, giving them a speckled appearance, and the streaking on the breast tends to be heavier. • As juvenile osprey mature, their eye color changes from brown to yellow.

27. Bird Identification

28. Bird Identification

29. Bird Identification

30. Bird Identification • In flight • White breast • Dark eye band • Speckled neck-females • Dark wrist patch

31. Eagle vs. Osprey Bald Eagle: White head Brown belly Yellow beak and talons Larger than Osprey Osprey: Eye stripe on head White belly Wings with wrist patches Dark beak and talons Smaller than Bald Eagle

32. Data Collection • The goal of the monitoring program is to document the breeding success of Osprey in Rhode Island • Weekly visits throughout the breeding season. Especially important when chicks are visible. • Once chicks can fly (fledglings), counting becomes tenuous as they visit other nests. • Report observations via website

33. Incubation Brooding Copulation

34. Data Submission • Online submission site: www.riosprey.info/data • Be sure to review the training guide and links. • Click on the submit data tab to enter observations. • To submit data you must be registered with Audubon. Please touch base with Jon at jscoones@asri.org to register. • Editing and deleting records • Just passing through

35. Data Submission • When submitting your observation, keep the content brief as the field is character limited. • Your email serves as your username: You must be registered before you will be able to enter data. • If you have problems email Jon before you become frustrated! • Check the website on a regular basis for news • Please save your field notes for two years.

36. Nest Assignment Process • We monitor over 200 nests across RI • Some nests have monitors from previous years; some nests need monitors. • 3/15 – Due date for returning monitors to claim nests • 3/18 – List of “open” nests circulated to monitors • 3/25 – Deadline for nest requests • 4/1 - Target date for nests to be assigned

37. Nest Status & New Nests • Please report the physical status of your assigned nest(s) early in the season via email. E.g. On pole, good condition. Or Pole with no platform. Or No pole or nest found. Etc… • Milestone Reporting • If you find a new nest please submit it via the website. Entering new nests takes time, please be patient! • Audubon does not repair or install nests off of our property. We do have some volunteers who may be interested in helping, should the situation arise.

38. General Tips • Avoid data collection in inclement weather • Approach nests slowly • If ospreys spook easily, increase observation distance • Enjoy your experience • Sometimes chicks are difficult to see > learn & watch behaviors, be patient!

39. General Tips • Depending on the nest, you will need binoculars or a spotting scope • Photos are great! Please include your name, the nest location, date and any description. All photos are assumed to be ok for Audubon to use. • Observing a nest you are not assigned to: “Just passing through”… • If you have to stop monitoring or are going to be away for more than two weeks please tell me via email as soon as possible!

40. Thank You!! Questions ?