New England Bird of the Day (July 14, 2011)
Osprey have made a strong comeback along Long Island Sound
I’ve seen about a hundred osprey over the last two days, so let’s make the fish hawk _ as some people call them _ today’s Bird of the Day. OK, a hundred is an exageration, but they are constantly flying over the Norwalk River making it difficult for me to get any work done.
But that’s a good thing that they are so plentiful. Years ago, an osprey sighting was a rare thing as pesticides and other factors severely dropped their numbers. They have made an amazing comeback and are quickly becoming a symbol of the Long Island Sound wildlife.
Osprey eat fish and are considered an indicator species, meaning if they are doing well, the entire ecosystem is doing well. I’m sure the Sound is far from pristine, but it must not be too bad either.
Osprey eat fish and live on salt- and fresh-water habitats.
Be sure to check out Bird Calls every Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. on WSTC/WNLK AM1400/1350 (in S. CT and nearby NY) or www.wstcwnlk.com from anywhere in the world (where there’s Internet access, that is.) Thanks for checking in.