Osprey Nest Survey Form Directions

The form should be fairly self-explanatory until "distance from nest tree to water," this is where we will begin with brief descriptions of what type of information we are looking for on these observation sheets.

Distance from nest tree to water - Do not go to an active nest tree (during nesting season) and measure. Use your best judgement and guess (in feet) how far it is. You may also want to measure this in the winter months when ospreys are in the wintering grounds in Central and South America.

Nearest body of water - Use the common name found on maps or what local folks refer to the body of water. If the map name is not the same as what locals refer to it as, list both names.

Adult osprey - A large, long winged raptor with a white body and a dark line through the eye. Wings are usually held in a gull-like crook. Female has short dark streaking on upper breast forming a necklace, sparser or absent on male. Adult eye is yellow.

Adult Osprey

Nestling osprey - Slightly smaller than the adults, nestlings have pale feather edges on back and upper wings and wider white terminal tail band. The nestling eye color is orange to red.

Nestling Osprey

Adult incubation posture - Both males and females incubate the eggs. This posture is identified by either bird "sitting" in the same spot in the nest for prolonged periods of time. The males and females "switch duties."