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October 20, 2005
OHIO OSPREYS SETTLE ON AMAZON RIVER
Satellite transmitters help wildlife biologists understand osprey migration patterns
COLUMBUS, OH - A pair of ospreys that nested and raised offspring at Alum Creek Lake in Delaware County this summer, have reached their wintering grounds in South America, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The female of the pair, which left Ohio first, is currently in Brazil, about 18 miles southeast of the city of Tabatinga. The male has arrived at a location 50 miles northwest of the city of Tefe in Brazil. The birds are currently more than 300 miles apart.
The birds’ southern migration has been tracked by satellite transmitters that were attached to them this summer as part of an effort to study the ospreys’ migration patterns. Their movements have been posted on the division’s website at ohiodnr.com/wildlife/Resources/osprey/migration.htm
These birds have traveled more than 3,500 miles in their journey south. The female left September 2 and reached her current location on September 29. The male left a week later, arriving at his wintering area October 6.
Both birds are residing near the Amazon River, an excellent source of fish, which is the ospreys’ main source of food. They will stay close to their current locations until sometime in March when they leave for their northern migration. Most ospreys that return to Ohio arrive in late March or April.
Ospreys, also known as fish hawks, are slightly smaller than an eagle and are found in many countries around the world. They have yellow eyes, light crown feathers, dark brown plumage on top and white on the underside.
This year, a record 37 osprey pairs produced 62 chicks in Ohio, up from 47 chicks produced from 30 nests the previous year. The division began reintroducing the osprey in the state in 1996. Prior to the reintroduction project, the last known osprey nest in the state was at Buckeye Lake in 1941.
Reintroduction of the osprey is supported by sales of cardinal license plates. Plates can be purchased from any deputy registrar’s office or by calling 1-888-PLATES3. Ohioans can also contribute to the division’s wildlife diversity efforts by checking the appropriate box on their Ohio income tax form.
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