Julie Loparo — a longtime Westport dog and wildlife advocate — writes:
There has been a great deal of concern about the ospreys this summer — and with good reason.
According to the staff of Wildlife in Crisis, our osprey friends have had a very difficult year. They have presented to Wildlife in Crisis in emaciated condition, because there is not enough for them to eat.
There needs to be better monitoring of fishing activity all around Westport. I’m not sure which local officials are responsible for monitoring (checking for fishing licenses, catching of under-sized fish) and the dangerous debris left behind, but it’s an issue the town needs to look at soon — and intensely, for the sake of our ospreys and other wildlife in the area.
The agencies that encourage this activity much be responsible for cleaning up the inevitable deadly mess left behind.
This adult osprey was found this summer near Greens Farms Academy, struggling on the ground entangled in fishing line and impaled with 12 fish hooks. He had been seen flying around for weeks with the line hanging off him.
Injured osprey
He was being tracked by Westport animal control officer and Wildlife in Crisis intake director Peter Reid (wearing both hats).
Thankfully Officer Reid finally captured him. He was brought to Wildlife in Crisis, where staff carefully removed all the fishing paraphernalia.
Fishing hooks, removed from osprey.
They allowed him to rest and heal first in their clinic, and then their flight cage to prepare for release.
Ospreys are tricky patients. Their long fragile wings must heal perfectly to enable flight. They are easily stressed in captivity, and rarely eat on their own so hand feeding is necessary.
Osprey, after Wildlife in Crisis treatment …
After a course of antibiotics to address infected wounds, he was ready for release. The Wildlife in Crisis handlers brought him back to the site of origin last week, and he flew beautifully back to his nest.
… and flying home.
Sadly, he must continue to contend with polluted sound water in Westport where he was found, as well as other fishing hazards.
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Thank you Julie for keeping us informed. We are fortunate to have you and others like Officer Reid and Wildlife in Crisis to take care of these magnificent creatures, and so many more every single day.
over-fishing of menhaden (a schooling forage fish harvested commercially for industrial uses) is the primary reason for the pressure on the northeastern osprey population.
Poor Osprey!
Let’s start a gofundme to cover the costs of relocating him to Florida (where they’re more welcoming to ospreys)
Hugs thanks to the folks who take such excellent care of troubled birds. Recently there was news about Scott Bryce passing. I had the unexpected chance to meet him years ago. He was intelligent, very aware and a wonderfully normal person.
Large osprey nest with several babies alive and well in my neighbors pine tree.
Agree ,Thanks to Wildlife in Crisis for saving the osprey -the ‘Flying Home’ photo here -Esp. appropriate ‘happy ending; to this story!
Thanks to all involved in bringing the fate of the osprey to our attention. I’m one of the many osprey nest monitors with the Osprey Nation program at Audubon CT. These birds have been such a pleasure to watch over time & to get to know. Do you know that they migrate solo from South America – not in flocks. That tells you are fiercely determined & sturdy these bird are. But they are suffering with many obstacles as they bush up against extinction. – The lack of food (they eat only fish) as has been mentioned but also the uptick of predator birds as the nests lay open to the sky. Of the three nests I monitor we have only one baby this season but I’m delighted to report this little one is thriving due to super diligent parents and alot of luck. Another big hit for the osprey in Fairfield County is the loss of nests at Manresa Island due to the (private) purchase of that land & extensive tree clearance along with many nests. As the project gets re-designed & re-reported it appears this large span of waterfront will be developed as some sort of amusement area, leaving the Osprey out. Osprey can live & nest in proximity to humans but fundamentally & wisely don’t trust us. They will likely no longer thrive there or even find homes at this large expanse called Manresa. I can’t help but compare the fate of the osprey to the mortality of our time. The proliferation of humans who believe their fate is not linked to all of our fates. That money & power trumps everything & anything. That we exist on this earth to only serve ourselves. Somehow our culture has evolved to drive this ethic forward elevating it to an ideal for some. To the point of electing someone to our highest office to represent our values whose only fundamential believe is that integrity. mutual respect & any remote sense of living a moral life is a gigantic liability.
stick to birds
leave your philosophical and qpolitical thoughts in the nest