Osprey Chat Thread for January 2016

SheilaFE said:

Thank you Tiger.  Time in Florida is currently 0514 - five hours behind - it is still dark, and an osprey is roosting on the side of the nest :)  My first osprey for 2016!

Yes this is why cam watchers need   The Daylight Map

Hi, all. I apologize in advance if I anger anyone, because this post isn't directly about ospreys. However, I know that many osprey followers are interested in avian reintroduction programs, especially for large water birds. This is a big, controversial announcement here in the U.S., and I thought some of you may have an interest in the outcome of this major project.

Many thanks Diane.  It is clearly a very complex and costly issue.  This is a really telling explanation: 

The decision was motivated by the lack of success the birds have seen in producing chicks and raising them in the wild.

Since 2001, nearly 250 whooping cranes have been released in Wisconsin. About 93 are currently alive, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. However, only 10 chicks have survived to fledge.

Many first-time parents are known to abandon their nests.

A sad outcome of a worthy project.

Unexpected news from Senegal! .... viaTweet from SWT Lowes Ranger

Great news and how typically generous of the Rutland Team to pass on their knowledge.

Thanks, Badger--great news about Blue YD!

Diane, Never mind that your news is about Cranes rather than Ospreys!  Cranes are great as well!  There used to be a thread about US Cranes, but it may be rather old--the Mods can move this (and your) comment to a Crane thread if needed.  What a shame that the US Federal funding for the Crane-following microlights is ending.  Also, very interesting that there is some concern that Cranes reared by humans in Crane costume seem likely to be bad parents!  But still, some Cranes do survive that process and do succeed in fledging youngsters--not only Whoopers and other Cranes in North America but Cranes here in the UK, too.  The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge had a rearing programme going for some years and several young were fledged successfully by free-flying birds in 2015, though I believe one or more of the parents were wild Cranes as well as a few parents being from the WWT Crane project.  Makes it difficult to choose the best future path to take if US conservationists plan to continue to try to establish the eastern migration route for Whooping Cranes, especially if funding will now be a real problem.  However, the notion of an eastern migration path sounds very wise, as a hedge against some future nasty disease wiping out all the Whoopers if they only winter in a single spot in Texas (or wherever it is!)

The WWT site states

'This year has seen around a dozen pairs of the young reintroduced birds take up territories across the South West with eight of these going on to make breeding attempts – two of which have ended in successfully fledged young'

www.wwt.org.uk/.../first-flight-of-wild-young-cranes-in-west-country-for-400-years

Most of these will be first attempts.  There may be more success as they mature.

That's interesting HILARY, thank you.  A couple of years ago whilst visiting National Trust Wicken Fen I heard an odd call which sort of sounded like a goose, but not.  Later we spotted a pair of crane in a wide cut area of reed.  It was a pair of crane.  Apparently they are at RSPB Lakenheath and it was thought they may have chosen a change of scenery.  But sadly they did not stay.

Thanks Sheila, Gardenbirder, and Hilary J. I agree, Ann, that it's imperative to continue working to re-establish the eastern migration route for the U.S. whoopers. The loss of funding will make developing alternative strategies difficult. You're right that the species' small, compact population is too vulnerable to disease and environmental threats.