Another name for the Osprey is the fish hawk. Osprey are 21-24
inches long. Their wingspan can be 6 feet. An osprey has dark patches
under its wings, a dark brown back, and a white breast. It has broad
black cheek patches. Osprey eat frogs and snakes, but fish are their
favorite food. Other birds, though, are pickier about their food than
osprey are. Osprey dive feet first to catch prey in water. Osprey
catch their prey about half their tries. They live near lakes,
rivers, and seas, and are found on dead trees or telephone poles.
Osprey lay their eggs from December to June in big, bulky nests they
make out of sticks in the tops of trees. Earlier this century a
pesticide called DDT started killing ospreys, and they were nearly
wiped out. Now they are making a comeback, and it is getting more and
more common to see them over Merrymeeting Bay.
Ryan D.
Grade 4
Bowdoin Central School.
THE AMERICAN OSPREY
American osprey are not classified as rare or endangered, but LaBastille (1973) states that in the recent past their population has been decline although it may presently be stable. Several hundred osprey are found along the Maine coast near lakes, bays, oceans, estuaries, and swamps. Ospreys nest on the tops of large dead or isolated trees, rocks bluffs, man-made platforms, etc., often in colonies.
While there are no osprey nests in the Merrymeeting Bay area, they are known to frequent the area in search of food, particularly shallow water or surface fish. They also prey occasionally on young ducks, snakes, and frogs.
Reasons for the past decline have included pesticide accumulation (same as for Bald Eagle), less food due to pollution of waterways, and disturbance from an encroaching civilization, especially the increased numbers and usage of boats.
Management recommendations which could ensure the Bay as a continued habitat for osprey include:
1. Abatement of water pollution
2. Installation of artificial nest stands
3. Boating controls, limiting the use of the Bay by motor boats.
Picture of an osprey on its nest
For information on Osprey migration, check The Raptor Center
