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Osprey

Did you know that Ospreys can live over 20 years? The oldest known osprey lived to be 25 years old! 

 

Ospreys can be found on every continent except for Antarctica. They are commonly found within 3-5 kilometers (1.9-3.1 miles) of a body of water, as over 99% of their diets consist of fish. They’re not particular about which fish, however, feeding on any they can find in the waters nearby. They have several adaptions to help them catch their prey: a reversable outer toe helps them better grasp slippery fish and special valves in their nose to prevent water from entering their nostrils when catching fish. These adaptions are key to the osprey’s hunting strategy, which is to spot a fish from the air, then plunge feet-first into the water below, snatching the fish and carrying it back to a perch to eat.  

Ospreys are large seabirds, with wingspans that can be 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) wide! While their size may make them easy to spot, they can also be identified by their characteristic stripe of dark feathers which goes through their eyes. Despite their large size, ospreys have been preyed upon in North America by bald eagles, and great horned owls.  

 

 

As of 2021, the osprey is classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.  Between the 18th and 20th centuries, however, this species was driven to extinction in Azerbaijan due to egg collecting and deforestation. Now, thankfully, populations are increasing, and the species is showing signs of recovery.  

 

 

Because fish are the osprey’s main source of food, they are particularly vulnerable to depleted fish stocks due to overfishing. Oceana campaigns to protect and restore ocean abundance by promoting responsible fishing practices to ensure that species — like the osprey — can thrive for generations to come.  

 

 

 

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