OSPREY CHICK BANDING PROJECT

By Sharon McGrigor

Images by Alicia Carter

The Eastern Osprey (Pandion cristatus) is listed as vulnerable in NSW and was just elevated to its own species classification in 2008.
During the 1970s, it was noticed that Osprey populations had declined along our eastern coastline. Pesticides and urbanisation were considered the main contributing factors. Since then the Osprey chick banding program was established.

In October, this years round of chick banding was undertaken by Greg Clancy (licenced bander) under NPWS supervision. Breeding monitoring was also undertaken by the Tweed Osprey Group. They have been monitoring the Ospreys each year between April to about November. Country Energy also helped by suppling the cherry pickers and personnel used to access the nests.

It is hoped that the Osprey banding program will establish whether the NR  populations, are on the increase or are in decline. Banding allows birds to be identified from a distance, so that dispersal ranges and survival rates can be recorded. Records can then identify the use & location of nesting sites, number of chicks per season and longevity of fledglings.

Results since 2003 have located 143 active nests between Tweed Heads & Foster. Since 1990, 99 chicks have been banded.
This year, 19 active nests were recorded between Tweed & Pottsville. From these 19 nests, there are 7 sets of twins, 2 nests with single chicks, 5 nests with females still sitting & 6 pairs which have not bred so far (these ones wont breed this year now). This shows quite a high incidence of twins that have survived to fledge.
It appears that it may be a good breeding season for the Osprey compared to last year when only 6 chicks fledged from 18 active nest sites. This may have coincided with a poor mullet season.

 To date, this year, there have been no known losses of chicks so far and 2 new nests have been built.
The exciting news is that the NR Osprey populations appear to be on the increase.

Osprey pairs may not breed every year and not all attempts are successful. Disturbance from urban sprawl is a contributing factor that may affect the Ospreys breeding cycle. When once, isolated nests are encroached upon, the breeding pair affected may not breed due to the disturbance and may abandon the nest permanently. One such site has seen no chicks for 3yrs. Other breeding pairs do not seem too concerned when disturbance is gradual or if they themselves chose to nest within an urban setting. In these instances, they have been observed using the same nest site over many years.

Country Energy's involvement includes assisting with relocating nests away from dangerous locations by installing artifical nesting cradles (and providing the cherry pickers and personnel to access the nests during banding). Cradles are provided by NPWS. These artificial nests have proven to be quite successful.

Both Osprey parent birds incubate the camouflaged eggs until they hatch at 33-38 days.  The young chicks fledge at approximately 7-11 weeks and return to feed from their nest for about another month or so.

Volunteers are needed to asisst in the Osprey program each year. Volunteers observe existing nests during the breeding season and advise if chicks are present and possibly a suitable age for banding. Volunteers are also asked to report all new nest sites.

To register, please contact Faye (Tweed Osprey Group) on 66779095 (north of the Brunswick River)  or Gina Hart (NPWS) on 66411500 (South of Brunswick River to the Clarence River) if you wish to help.

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