Migration patterns of northern Idaho and eastern Washington ospreys

Call Number:

URL:

Keywords:

Abstract:

The migration patterns of Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in North America are best known for eastern populations where banding has been in progress for more than 50 years. These Ospreys move through the West Indies to winter in South America. Nesting populations in the Midwest winter in Panama, Colombia and Ecuador. Yearling Ospreys remain on the wintering grounds while those two years old return for the first time to northern nesting areas. Although two-year olds form pairs and build nests they do not lay eggs. Hence Ospreys attain reproductive maturity at the age of three. Only casual banding was conducted in the western United States until recently. Active banding programs are in progress in several western states including Idaho and Washington where we have banded 254 nestlings during the past seven seasons (1970-1976). In addition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service band, we have placed 2-inch plastic leg streamers, color-coded by year, on most of these birds. Although the number of recoveries is small, they are well-spaced seasonally and geographically so that we can make some general statements regarding the migration patterns, the wintering areas, and the nest-area philopatry of these Ospreys. Recoveries made prior to the first fall migration are excluded from our analysis.

Notes:

Reference Code: A78MEL01IDUS

Full Citation: Melquist, W. E., D. R. Johnson, and W. D. Carrier. 1978. Migration patterns of northern Idaho and eastern Washington ospreys. Bird-Banding 49(3): 234-236.

Location: ANIMAL EF: BIRDS