Species
haliaetus cristatus
Common Name
Eastern Osprey
Comment
JAMBA/CAMBA - International Migratory Bird Agreement.
Stronghold population
True
Regionally significant/rationale
True
Restricted distribution/rationale
False
Historical abundance
Declining worldwide. Sparsely distributed over the Australian continent, particularly coastal areas of eastern, northern and western Australia. In 1988, the density of breeding Ospreys in northern NSW and south-east Queensland may be gradually increasing.
Overall distribution
Coasts and islands of Australia except the extreme south-east and Tasmania confined mostly to northern Australia.
Local distribution
Coastal species inhabiting a variety of marine and littoral habitats. Needs extensive areas of open water to feed
Known location
Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera Creek EP, Tallebudgera, Eagleby, Nerang, Coombabah, Jacobs Well, Canung
Other locality
Regularly sited along the Gold Coast nesting pair near the ? sports oval relocated in June 1999 to a reconstructed nest site.
General ecology
Seashores, estuaries, reservoirs.
Habitat comment
Will accept artificial structures to build a nest.
Threats
Loss and degradation of habitat through:
1. Sedimentation and pollution of waterways, clearing of staging and roosting habitat (tall trees) near waterways
Reduced recruitment through:
1. Contamination of its food supply with agricultural pesticides which leads to reproductive failure
2. Disturbance of nest sites by humans; loss of suitable nest trees
Management
Where ever possible the following suggested objectives and guidelines should be followed:
Objectives:
1. Protect known nest sites of this species.
2. Retain the integrity of the foraging habitat by protecting riparian vegetation and water quality.
Guidelines:
1. Survey for nest sites.
2. Establish protection zones around known nest sites and feeding platforms.
3. Retain vegetation stands which provide nesting substrate.
Feeding substrate
Fresh and salt water.
Breeding season
April to July
Social group
Single, sedentary, dispersed pairs
Behaviour
The Osprey is a large, specialist predator of live fish (25-35 cm. in size), foraging over saltwater lakes, beaches, estuaries and rivers, sometimes the ocean. It catches its prey on the wing, often submerging to a depth of 1m to take fish. They use tall live or dead trees as staging and eating points. Nests are conspicuous, often very large and built from sticks in trees or ledges on cliffs. Broad-leaved Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) and Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca) are most frequently used nesting material but not critical. This raptor will travel long distances to access suitable feeding and nesting grounds.
Biology
Identification: Length 50-65 cm; wingspan to 1.7 m. Female larger. Adult brown back; head and underparts white; distinctive dark "bandit mask" through eye which joins a brown necklace across the throat, darker and more obvious on female. Juvenile similar but more speckled and with a darker face and throat markings.
Citations
Cotsell 1999, Pizzey & Knight 1997, Stanger et.al. 1998, Quensland Museum 1995.
