Osprey Conservation

Osprey perched in a tree in SharonThe osprey (pandion haliaetus) is a conservation success story. Once threatened with extinction due to the use of DDT insecticide, which weakened their egg shells, the osprey is becoming a not unusual sight in Massachusetts and the entire U.S. east coast. The photos here by David Rabinowitz are of an osprey perched above Briggs Pond in August 2012.

Osprey perched in a tree in SharonThese birds can be seen nesting on poles and electrical towers as well as many poles erected exclusively for them. Mating for life, ospreys are highly cooperative in nest construction and rearing of their young. Their diet is almost entirely fish, though they are known to eat mussels and crustaceans if available.

More information about ospreys
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Osprey Cam
Osprey sounds