Osprey had 54 fledges in 2016
Although 2016 saw a decline in osprey fledges, with warmer temperatures and clearer waters so far in 2017, it’s hopeful this year will be more successful.
The International Osprey Foundation President Jim Griffith said last year the increased rainfall resulted in high run-offs, and a dark cloudy water appearance making it hard for the osprey to feed their families. Those conditions resulted in 54 fledglings, compared to 72 in 2015.
A few years ago Griffith said they had 120-130 successful fledges, which were all due to warmer weather and clean water.
It takes an osprey three or four years before they begin mating, he explained. As of the end of January, a good amount of osprey were mating and courting. The incubation period then takes 33 to 34 days, Griffith said. At seven, or eight weeks, they fledge, typically the middle of May.
The islands have a healthy population ranging anywhere from the high 300s to the mid 400s.
For the past 15 years, Griffith has been building platforms for the osprey, a need that arose after Hurricane Charley swept through the area. The platforms are a 40-inch square with chain link fencing underneath. The chain link helps the osprey when bringing sticks back to the nest because they do not fall through.
“Most of the nests were in Australian pines,” he said. “All of the nests were blown out of the trees and I started building platforms.”
Those platforms are located between 25 to 30 feet in the air, often times on a utility pole. Griffith said the osprey enjoy being that high, away from other trees because they can see 360 degrees.
“It’s a predator thing,” Griffith said.
One of the platforms he was excited about is located on the outskirts of Blind Pass, near the bridge.
“I was thrilled to give someone something they didn’t know they enjoyed,” he said of watching the osprey on the platform.
Last year the International Osprey Foundation helped sponsor a lecture at the J.N. “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center to bring Alan Poole to the island. Poole is an associate of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and editor and developer of “The Birds of North America Life History,” series.
“He gave a presentation to us about four or five years ago,” Griffith said of the Sanibel Captiva Audubon Society. “He was totally dedicated.”