[mou] Report Osprey Nests

Nancy Lauseng nlauseng@threeriversparkdistrict.org
Thu, 8 Apr 2004 18:26:08 -0500


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REPORT OSPREY NESTS TO THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT

Have you seen an osprey nesting within 50 miles of the Twin Cities? 
If so, Three Rivers Park District would like to know about it.

The Park District has been monitoring the osprey's population growth 
for the past 18 years, which includes determining the number of young 
fledged each year and banding the young to help follow the population 
expansion.  Park personnel are interested in finding new nests, 
especially those that are not located on nest structures built 
specifically for ospreys.

Ospreys once were a common site in the Twin Cities, but by the 
mid-20th century, their numbers were drastically reduced due to 
shooting, loss of habitat and pesticide exposure.  In 1984, Three 
Rivers Park District began reintroducing ospreys to their former 
nesting territory in the eight-county metro area.  More than 50 nest 
platforms have been placed throughout the metro area, but the growing 
osprey population also has taken a liking to power poles, light 
poles, water towers, and even wind-turbine machines.  These are the 
nests park biologists hope to find. Ospreys prefer to nest on high 
structures in open areas near water, since their primary food source 
is fish.  That is why some people refer to them as "fish hawks."

With a 4-1/2- to five-foot wingspan, ospreys are easy to identify. 
These massive raptors have distinctive dark "masks" across their 
faces, long black-hooked beaks, and dark brown backs.  Osprey breasts 
are white, and females often have a "necklace" of dark brown spots 
over their throats and upper breasts.  Ospreys typically initiate 
nesting activity in early April and are gone from the state by late 
September, when they migrate to South and Central America.

To report an osprey nest sighting, call Three Rivers Park District at 
763/694-7840 or e-mail osprey.mn@att.net.

2004 is the 20th Anniversary of the Twin Cities Osprey Program!

Three Rivers Park District will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 
Twin Cities Osprey Program from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 10, at 
Carver Park Reserve in Victoria!.

Thank you.

Nancy Lauseng
Public Relations Specialist
Three Rivers Park District
<mailto:nlauseng@threeriversparkdistrict.org>nlauseng@threeriversparkdistrict.org 
| 763/559-6745

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<div><u><b>REPORT OSPREY NESTS TO THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT<br>
<br>
</b></u>Have you seen an osprey nesting within 50 miles of the Twin
Cities?&nbsp; If so, Three Rivers Park District would like to know
about it.</div>
<div><br>
The Park District has been monitoring the osprey's population growth
for the past 18 years, which includes determining the number of young
fledged each year and banding the young to help follow the population
expansion.&nbsp; Park personnel are interested in finding new nests,
especially those that are not located on nest structures built
specifically for ospreys.</div>
<div><br>
Ospreys once were a common site in the Twin Cities, but by the
mid-20th century, their numbers were drastically reduced due to
shooting, loss of habitat and pesticide exposure.&nbsp; In 1984, Three
Rivers Park District began reintroducing ospreys to their former
nesting territory in the eight-county metro area.&nbsp; More than 50
nest platforms have been placed throughout the metro area, but the
growing osprey population also has taken a liking to power poles,
light poles, water towers, and even wind-turbine machines.&nbsp; These
are the nests park biologists hope to find. Ospreys prefer to nest on
high structures in open areas near water, since their primary food
source is fish.&nbsp; That is why some people refer to them as
&quot;fish hawks.&quot;</div>
<div><br>
With a 4-1/2- to five-foot wingspan, ospreys are easy to identify.&nbsp;
These massive raptors have distinctive dark &quot;masks&quot; across
their faces, long black-hooked beaks, and dark brown backs.&nbsp;
Osprey breasts are white, and females often have a &quot;necklace&quot;
of dark brown spots over their throats and upper breasts.&nbsp;
Ospreys typically initiate nesting activity in early April and are
gone from the state by late September, when they migrate to South and
Central America.</div>
<div><br>
To report an osprey nest sighting, call Three Rivers Park District at
763/694-7840 or e-mail<u> osprey.mn@att.net</u>.</div>
<div><br>
<u><b>2004 is the 20th Anniversary of the Twin Cities Osprey
Program!</b></u><br>
<u><b></b></u></div>
<div>Three Rivers Park District will celebrate the 20th anniversary of
the Twin Cities Osprey Program from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 10,
at Carver Park Reserve in Victoria!.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Thank you.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Nancy Lauseng<br>
Public Relations Specialist<br>
Three Rivers Park District<br>
<a
href="mailto:nlauseng@threeriversparkdistrict.org"
>nlauseng@threeriversparkdistrict.org</a> | 763/559-6745</div>
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