Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus) B |
 |
RANGE: Breeds from northwestern Alaska and northern Yukon to
central Labrador and Newfoundland south locally to Baja
California, central Arizona, southern Texas, the Gulf Coast, and
southern Florida. Winters from central California, southern
Texas, the Gulf Coast and Florida south to South America.
STATUS: Locally common to uncommon; population declining due to
destruction of habitat, pesticides, human disturbance, and
reduction of food resources.
HABITAT: Nearly cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every
continent except Antarctica. Occupies a wide range of habitats
in association with water, primarily near lakes, rivers, and
along coastal waters with adequate supplies of fish.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Elevated nest sites near water
with rich fish resources. Strongest nesting habitat
association along lake or pond shorelines and islands.
NEST: Nests in loose colonies or singly, and uses a wide variety
of structures to support large stick nests, which may be 60 feet
or more above ground. Prefers a snag in or near water, with a
broken top or side limbs able to support the nest. Prefers tall
snags that provide good visibility and security. Also nests on
pilings, utility poles, duck blinds, buildings, steel towers for
transmission lines, windmills, channel markers, fences, a wide
variety of living, partially dead, or dead trees, wooden
platforms in marshes, on cliffs, and sometimes on the ground.
Nest site may be used by the same pair year after year.
FOOD: Feeds almost exclusively on fish; flies 50 to 100 feet
above (preferably shallow) water, then hovers and plunges into
the water to catch fish. Also eats frogs, snakes, ducks, crows,
night-herons, and small mammals. .
REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, DeGraff et al. 1980, Heintzelman
1979, Miller 1999, Shunk 2004, Sprunt 1955, Zarn 1974a. |
