Image Credit: John Taylor

Where do they live?

The Eastern Osprey is found in coastal regions of Australia. Despite their name they are found all around the Australian coast, not just on the eastern shoreline. 

Ospreys establish hunting and breeding territories and once the juveniles are old enough they disperse to establish their own territory away from their parents. Once they’ve selected and established a territory, they are considered a sedentary species and will often return to the same nest or territory annually. Returning to the same nest means that the nest can be built up each year until it forms a huge structure, sometimes reaching 2m wide. 

You may have spotted the nests of our local Eastern Osprey around the Northern Beaches. Their favourite nesting spots are up high in open locations, which can include construction cranes, sportsfield lighting, living or dead trees, or any other tall structure that takes their fancy. 

Their behaviour of nesting on construction cranes can create problems for both birds and builders when cranes are dismantled at the end of construction. To help address this, Council has installed an artificial Osprey nesting platform at Careel Bay Playing Fields in Avalon. 

Artificial nesting platforms are becoming more common across Australia and provide Osprey with a safe and permanent nesting location. They are strategically placed near bodies of water in open areas with good visibility. A basket structure is constructed at the top which mimics the basic shape of a nest to encourage the Osprey to pile up sticks and get building. 

Osprey are listed as vulnerable to extinction under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

What do they eat?

As a raptor species, the Eastern Osprey is a very skilled hunter. Fish make up almost 100% of their diet and they hunt by soaring or hovering above the water and then diving feet-first to snatch up surface-swimming fish. 

They have several adaptations that help them hunt:

• Reversible outer toes for gripping slippery fish so that they don’t drop them.
• Dense and oily feathers, so that they are not heavy and waterlogged after diving into the water. 
• Keen eyesight, so that they can spot fish while they are soaring high above the water.

Ospreys can often be seen at Long Reef in Collaroy, hunting for and feeding on fish along the cliffline. 

What do they look like?

The Eastern Osprey is a medium sized raptor with a body length typically between 55 and 65cm and a wingspan of 1.7m. Their plumage is dark brown on their back with a white underside. The females weight up to 2kg and are typically larger than the males. Osprey have long narrow wings with a kink at the wrist, giving them an M shaped silhouette as they fly through the sky. 

They typically live for between 15 and 20 years but some are known to have lived up to 25 years in the wild.

How can you support the Eastern Osprey?

• Dispose of fishing line and gear appropriately: Osprey and fish can get entangled in fishing gear and marine debris.
• Slow down and keep an eye out when boating: This will also help conserve other species such as little penguins.
• Keep your dog on a leash: Avoid disturbing wildlife by keeping your dog on leash outside of off-leash areas.
• Report fox sightings: Report any fox activity to FoxScan.
• Report injured wildlife to WIRES (1300 094 737) or Sydney Wildlife (9413 4300). 
• Contact Council’s Planning Enquiry Service on 1300 434 434 for advice if you are planning to undertake a development in proximity to an Osprey nest.
• Manage household chemicals: Use minimal amounts of fertilisers and pesticides on lawns and wash cars with water or eco-friendly soap to prevent chemicals from washing into our local waterways.
• Join a local Bushcare group: Participate in supervised bush regeneration to help restore habitat.
• Join local clean ups: Participate in local clean up groups such as the Northern Beaches Clean Up Crew.

Fun facts

• Osprey carry fish head-forward which helps to make their flight more aerodynamic after they’ve caught their prey.
• Osprey are indicators of a healthy coastal environment as they prefer areas with good fish stocks.
• The breeding season in NSW is generally between June and December which is when we see the most nest building activity.