Osprey

Photo: Jon Norling

Find out more about the Wellington Point osprey pair 

Scientific name:  Pandion haliaetus cristatus

Status

• Queensland: Least concern (NCA 1992)
• Commonwealth: Migratory (EPBC Act 1999)

What does it look like?

The Osprey, although a relatively large bird of prey, is noticeably smaller than a White-bellied Sea-eagle.  Ospreys have a white head with a dark stripe through the eye and down the neck. Their back is dark brown while their breast and belly are predominantly white. Females tend to have heavier brown flecking around their collar. They have distinctive bowed wings and a short and square tail while in flight.

Eastern Ospreys usually occur singly, occasionally in twos, or more rarely in a family group of parents and dependent juveniles. 

Where do they live?

Eastern ospreys occur in coastal habitats and terrestrial wetlands of tropical and temperate Australia and offshore islands. They occasionally travel inland along major rivers, particularly in nothern Australia. 

Eastern ospreys forage in a variety of habitat, inlcuding inshore waters, reefs, bays, coastal cliffs, beaches, estuaries, mangrove swamps, broad rivers, reservoirs and large lakes and waterholes.They nest in tall (usually dead) trees in open woodland and forest in close proximity to water.

Eastern ospreys also occue in Indonesia, Philippines, Palau Islands, New Guinea, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.

Breeding

In South East Queensland, the Eastern osprey’s breeding season occurs from April to November. Some pairs breed every year, others every two to three years. Many return to the same nesting site year after year. The species is increasingly seen making use of artificial structures for nest sites (e.g. power pylons, lighting towers, bridges) and purpose-built nest platforms on poles.

Both the female and male osprey take part in nest building, with the male doing most of the carrying and the female doing most of the arranging. Eastern osprey nests vary in size but they are generally quite large, and built into a bowl shape using sticks and lined with seaweed and grass.

The female will usually lay a clutch of two to three eggs. These are primarily incubated by the female, for a period of 33-38 days. The male is largely occupied with providing food during this time.

The young fledge (leave the nest) at 55-60 days after hatching, but can return to the nest to be fed for some time thereafter. The period of post-fledging dependence on the paretns is not precisely known, but it is estimated to range from one to two months. 

What do they eat?

Eastern ospreys are great hunters. They mainly feed on medium-sized fish that they catch while patrolling the coast, but they do occasionally eat crustaceans, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals. Eastern ospreys are primarily diurnal (active during daylight hours), but they have also been observed hunting for prey at night.

  Eastern ospreys search for prey by soaring and circling above the water, before diving down and snatching it from the surface by plunging into the water feet first. They can also completely submerge into the water in pursuit of their prey. Eastern ospreys have oily plumage that repels water and allows them to take flight as soon as they reach the surface.

Eastern ospreys have extremely sharp, hooked claws and flexible toes with spiny toe pads, perfect for holding onto a slippery meal. They take their catch to a perch close-by and tear it into bite-sized pieces with their sharp beak.

What is threatening them?

• Habitat loss and degradation of nesting sites
• Reduced water quality at foraging grounds from effluent and runoff
• Ingestion of, and entaglement in fishing tackle
• Competition for food ue to unsustainable fishing practices 

Conservation 

The main threat to the Eastern osprey’s survival is loss and degradation of nesting sites. This is why Redland City Council have erected artificial nest platforms in a number of locations to help our Eastern osprey pairs nest safely.

Redland City Council are currently running a Citizen Science project that includes researching the nesting sites and behaviours of coastal raptors on the Redlands Coast.

Did you know...?

• Average size: 50-65cm length
• Wing span: 1.7m
• Average weight: 1.25kg
• Breeding Season: April – November
• Clutch Size: 2-3 eggs
• Incubation period: 33-38 days
• Chicks fledge: 55-60 days.

How can you help?

• Plant and preserve trees around our waterways and wetlands
• Pick up litter around our waterways
• Support sustainable fishing practices
• Discard fishing lines and hooks in rubbish bins.

Report your sighting

If you have seen or suspect you have seen an osprey, please report it to Atlas of Living Australia.