With a wingspan of nearly 7 feet, Osprey are the only raptors in North America that eat mostly live fish, which they catch by gliding above the water’s surface and diving feet-first once they find their prey.
While Osprey typically nest up high, on trees or telephone poles, they sometimes build their nests on lower platforms. Here on the Anacostia the birds build their nests on the concrete pilings beneath the South Capitol Street bridge, offering a rare opportunity to see this bird of prey nearly at eye level.
Osprey migrate long distances each year, with their range extending from northern Canada to South America. They typically return to the same spot each year, many of them nesting near the same body of water where they fledged.
Osprey as Environmental Signals
The Osprey has long been an important indicator of the health of an ecosystem. In the United States in the 1950s, DDT – a hazardous pesticide made famous by Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring – caused thinning of the Osprey’s eggshells. Data on the birds’ eggshells and diminishing populations were used to help pass a ban on DDT and several other toxic pesticides.
Today the Osprey is still an excellent sign of a habitat’s health. We have a lot of work to do in restoring the Anacostia, but this bird of prey’s presence tells us that the River has tremendous potential to flourish as a healthy ecosystem.
For more information:
Birds of North America Online:
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/683/articles/introduction
US Fish & Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office:
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