Osprey - "Pandion haliaetus"
Photo: National Park Service
Diet
Osprey's diet consists almost exclusively (around 99% of their diet) on live fish, which they catch by using their long, hooked talons. While hunting, they will occasionally momentarily submerge their entire body. Osprey can only catch fish that are within the top 3 feet of the water's surface.
Life History
Ospreys typically use dead trees or man-made structures for nesting, however they will occasionally nest on the ground. Their nest is often used year after year and can become quite large, with some nests being up to 10 feet high. Osprey prefer to nest along lakes or rivers if possible. Males and females generally mate for life, and will often use the same nest every year. In the springtime, females will lay one to four eggs in their nest. The baby osprey, or chicks, learn how to fly when they are about 2 months old. Chicks stay with their parents in the nest for another 2 months after learning how to fly, as their parents will teach them how to fish.
Habitat and Distribution
Ospreys breed on every continent, except Antartica, however, only one subspecies occurs in North America (Pandion haliaetus carolinensis). Throughout their range, Osprey prefer to live near water, whether that be a lake, river or the ocean, since Osprey almost exclusively feed upon fish. Osprey typically are in New York State from April to September, and migrate to Central and South America in the winter, with some Osprey migrating as far south as Argentina.
Reintroduction of Osprey to the Allegheny Reservoir
Bald Eagle - "Haliaeetus leucocephalus"
Photo: National Park Service
Diet
The primary diet of a Bald Eagle is fish, however, they will often feed on small mammals, turtles, waterfowl and carrion. Bald Eagles are known for stealing fish from other fish eating birds, such as the osprey and common merganser.
Life History
Bald Eagles mate for life, and nest within the general area in which they were born. Mating pairs will produce one to two offspring per year in the spring. Their young will fledge by mid to late summer, when they are around 12 weeks old, and be independent by about 20 weeks old. Eagles typically nest in trees with limbs strong enough to support their large nests, which are generally 4 to 5 feet wide Nests can reach lengths over 10 feet across, since they are reused and added to each year.
Habitat and Distribution
The Bald Eagle only lives in North America, occuring in every US state (except Hawaii), and they are found throughout much of Canada. Bald Eagles prefer to live near lakes or rivers due to their primary food source being fish. In the winter, Eagles need to live near open water to target fish.
The Impact of DDT on Osprey and Bald Eagle Populations
