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April 17, 2006
RADIO-TAGGED FEMALE OF OSPREY PAIR PRESUMED DEAD
Follow the migration | Osprey in Ohio
COLUMBUS, OH - The female of a monitored pair of osprey that nested at Alum Creek State Park in Delaware County last year appears to have died en route from her wintering grounds in South America, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The female osprey left Colombia on March 28 and had flown 500 miles north into Venezuela. Since April 2 her radio tag has generated little to no activity, with the exception of a few sporadic transmissions recorded on April 3 and 8. The accuracy of those transmissions was questionable and it appears to wildlife biologists that the locations were off by several hundred miles. On April 12, the radio tag was generating readings from the same location in Venezuela.
“There is a chance that the transmitter is malfunctioning and this bird could still be in flight north, but we consider that unlikely at this point,” said Dave Sherman, a biologist with the Division of Wildlife.
Possible causes of death include disease, injury, collision, and shooting. Ospreys are often held in contempt by South American locals who consider them competitors for fish.
Still, biologists are optimistic for an osprey nest at Alum Creek State Park this year. The radio-tagged male safely returned to the reservoir on April 2 and began building its nest. Since that time, a new female osprey has arrived and it appears the two have established a pairing.
The identity of the new female bird has not yet been confirmed. Her colored leg bands indicate that she is an Ohio bird, although biologists and volunteers have not been able to get close enough to make a definitive identification.
“Observing the activities of these three osprey the past few weeks has been informative,” Sherman said. “The idea of osprey mating for life is often misleading. An osprey pair bond is strong, but it can be broken. The male osprey had already established a new pairing before we were even aware that his previous mate might be dead.”
The Division of Wildlife began reintroducing osprey, a state-endangered species, in the state in 1996, releasing 32 birds that year. In 2005, a record 37 osprey pairs produced 62 chicks in Ohio.
The osprey reintroduction efforts are partially funded by donations to the state income tax check-off program for Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species. Contributions can be made by checking the appropriate line on the state income tax form. Donations can also be made via the Internet at ohiodnr.com/wildlife. Click on the red “donate” button on the left side of the page.
Osprey restoration is also funded by sales of the cardinal license plates, which can be purchased through a deputy registrar license outlet, on the Internet at OPLATES.com or by calling the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 1-888-PLATES3.
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