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	Ospreys in 2001

Good News for Ospreys

by Chris Martin, Senior Biologist

PSNH contractors set four new osprey nesting poles along the Connecticut River in Westmoreland and Haverhill. Photo by Chris Martin New Hampshire's Ospreys recorded a very good reproductive season in 2001 for the second year in a row. Data gathered this past summer revealed productivity that approached, but fell slightly short of, the highest levels ever documented by Audubon and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department since Osprey population monitoring began in the state in 1980. In addition to the very encouraging breeding population numbers discussed below, activities undertaken recently by Project Osprey, a statewide partnership led by Audubon, New Hampshire Fish and Game, and Public Service of New Hampshire, appear to make prospects increasingly good that this state-listed threatened raptor is on a steady course toward full recovery and eventual delisting in the Granite State. Breeding season results A total of 42 young Ospreys fledged from 28 active nests in the state during this past summer, which was a respectable average of 1.5 young per active nest. The key to this year's strong numbers was exceptionally high productivity at the 17 successful nests. Nearly two-thirds (11 of 17) produced three chicks each, resulting in an impressive average of 2.48 young per successful nest, which established a new record high mark for the state in that category. There were productive nests in four of the state's five major watersheds (all but the Saco River drainage), but breeding success was rather unevenly distributed. All five active nests (100%) located around Great Bay were successful, as were four of five (80%) in the Merrimack River watershed. Meanwhile, farther north in the state, only seven out of 16 active nests (44%) in the Androscoggin River watershed were successful, and just one of two (50%) in the upper portion of the Connecticut River. There was nearly complete failure of nesting attempts in extreme northern Coos County this year, where unusually heavy rains prevailed during mid-July. Only 20% of active nests (two of ten) located north of Route 26 were successful, fledging just six chicks, whereas, south of Route 26 in Coos County, 75% of active nests (six of eight) were successful, fledging 17 chicks. Project Osprey gains strength Audubon, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, and PSNH are now in the second year of a long-term wildlife partnership called Project Osprey. This initiative unites corporate, government, and non-profit sectors to enhance Osprey population recovery and to promote greater public awareness of the importance of healthy ecosystems to all wildlife. The primary goals of Project Osprey are to foster a self-sustaining Osprey population, develop a comprehensive educational program, and promote the partnership as a model for other similar collaborative ventures in the future. Adopting a written recovery plan, installing 15 new nesting platforms, enhancing public viewing opportunities, and creating a science curriculum unit for middle and high school students are four key tasks that the partnership hopes to accomplish during this five-year effort. One part of the state where Ospreys have not nested in recent memory is in the Connecticut River watershed south of Lancaster. This past February, in an effort to change that situation, PSNH and their contract crews installed four new nesting platforms for Ospreys along the mainstem of the Connecticut River. We hope that these new poles, placed on county-owned tracts in both Cheshire and Grafton counties as well as on private farmland in Cheshire County, will help restore nesting Ospreys to this part of the Granite State. As our Osprey population recovers, breeding pairs are establishing nests within Great Blue Heron nesting colonies with increasing frequency. In 2001, 35% (6 of 17) of the state's successful Osprey nests occurred in heron colonies. To better understand what is happening, Chris Horne, an Antioch New England graduate student, recently conducted an internship with Audubon, during which he studied several dozen heron colonies in southeastern New Hampshire, including those containing recently active Osprey nests. We believe that data gathered during his study will help us search for new Osprey nests and appropriately manage wetland habitat. Coordinated by New Hampshire Fish and Game's Kelle MacKenzie and long-time Audubon Osprey-watching volunteer Dick Hughes, we launched the Project Osprey Stewards program, a regional nest monitoring effort based at the Sandy Point Discovery Center on Great Bay. New volunteers received training on nest-watching techniques, adopted specific nests, and watched them throughout the breeding season. Observations were shared among volunteers by posting them on a web site developed and maintained by Dick Hughes. We hope that the success of this expanded regional nest monitoring effort at Great Bay can soon be replicated in other parts of the state, such as in the Lakes Region and in the Androscoggin River watershed. To learn more about New Hampshire's recovering Osprey population, the Project Osprey initiative, and many exciting opportunities to volunteer, please check out the Project Osprey Stewards web site, or contact Chris Martin at Audubon.