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Background – Ospreys are beautiful large birds of prey. Important reasons for selection of the osprey as a focus species is that ospreys are a global species and are excellent indicators of environmental quality. Pollution free water is paramount to the success of the osprey as a species, both locally and worldwide. Ospreys are uniquely adapted for catching fish for food. Due to the widespread use of DDT, a persistent pesticide, ospreys failed to successfully nest in Kentucky for about fifty years. Unfortunately, this was the case throughout most of the ospreys’ range in the US. President Richard Nixon and Tim Gardner, The International Osprey Foundation (TIOF) President met twice resulting in the ban of DDT in 1972 in the US and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency. By the 1980s DDT was no longer in the ospreys’ food chain at Lake Barkley, Kentucky. Federal and state wildlife organizations worked together to successfully reintroduce ospreys at Lake Barkley thru an osprey hacking project. Hacking is a falconry term meaning the gentle and gradual return to the wild of a captive bird of prey while maintaining the birds “wildness” by limited exposure to humans. Sixty-one ospreys were relocated by state agencies from a few locations in the Eastern US where ospreys were more numerous at the time. Ospreys were flown to Lake Barkley for hacking from 1981-1989. As a result, in 1986 Kentucky had its first osprey nests in 50 years! Three osprey nests were found including one at Lake Barkley (no eggs until 1988), a nest at Kentucky Lake (tree was illegally cut down on private property killing all chicks) and one at the Ohio River, young fledged. Two osprey chicks fledged at Lake Barkley in Lake Barkley’s first nest in1988. By 1996 twelve osprey nests were surveyed at Lake Barkley with only two other known nests in Kentucky, likely the same osprey pair at Kentucky Lake (relocated their nest to a navigation light the next year) and the same Ohio River nest.
Osprey surveys conducted by a federal agency at Lake Barkley ended in 1996. It was evident that surveys should resume from observations made at Lake Barkley during public Lake Barkley Eco Cruises conducted during 1999 by KEEP founder and director, Ed Ray. Ed volunteered to resume the annual osprey survey supported by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. During the surveys, it was apparent that many ospreys were nesting in hazardous locations with some nests being lost to high wind and flooding. Many new nests were blocking navigation lights required for public and commercial boating safety. It was reported that funds were no longer available to assist the ospreys and provide platforms to solve the navigation light problems. Ed suggested to agency personnel that a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization (KEEP, Inc.) would be established to help the ospreys and solve navigation light problems. Ed’s education background and desire to involve Kentucky students lead to involvement and needed assistance by schools, the public and other organizations. KEEP has been contacted by other states, wildlife departments and companies for advice and design plans for the KEEP/CCES osprey platform, which is always promptly provided.
Ongoing Osprey Nesting Survey – 1999-2006
The Lake Barkley osprey survey conducted most years since 1999 provides trends in numbers of ospreys, nests and nesting successes or failures. The first osprey nest at Lake Barkley in the twentieth century was in 1986. The nest produced the first chicks in 1988. By 1996 twelve nests were counted at Lake Barkley. Following is a summary of ospreys nesting at Lake Barkley, KY complied by Ed Ray from 1999-2006. Public and school students are invited to participate in the survey made largely by boat. The survey is conducted over several days including about half of Lake Barkley, KY one day and the other half the next day. Participation is limited due to space in the survey boat. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) supports the survey. KEEP provides an annual nesting report with recommendations to the KDFWR and US Coast Guard who install and maintain navigation lights where ospreys routinely nest. Increases in ospreys and nests have been helped by the contributions and effectiveness of the KEEP/CCES osprey project described in Project 1.
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Two young Lake Barkley ospreys at ideal age for counting.
Note white-tipped brown feathers typical of young ospreys.
OSPREY NESTING SURVEY-1999-2006, LAKE BARKLEY, KY
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Survey dates
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Nests with young
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Total nests
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On nests:
Adults Young
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Near nests
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Not near nests
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Total number
of Ospreys
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July 18 & 21, 1999
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11
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26
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37 24
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-
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-
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61
(37A, 24Y)
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July 9 & 13, 2000
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11
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28
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34 32
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2 A
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2 A,
2 U
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72
(38A, 32Y, 2U)
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July 23 & 29, 2001
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12 (20)*
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34
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28 24
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17 A,
13 Y
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1 A,
6 U
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89
(46A, 37Y,
6U)
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July 7 & 9, 2002
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25
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33
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49 47
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12 A, 2 Y
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4 A,
1 U
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115
(65A, 49Y, 1U)
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July 2 & 3, 2003
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27
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43
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68** 51
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3A,
3 U
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6 U
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135
(75A, 51Y, 9U)
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July 6 & 9, 2004
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33
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47
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66 69
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7 A,
2 Y
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9 A,
19 U
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172
(82A, 71Y,
19U)
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July 6 & 7, 2005
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33
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50
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79 63
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4A, 2Y
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6A, 19U
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173
(89A, 65Y, 19U)
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July 2 - 9, 2006
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34
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54
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77. .......71
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7A
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13A, 1Y, 5U
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174
(97A, 72Y, 5U)
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A = Adult, Y = Young, & U = Unaged due to distance too far to age
* 2001 survey was delayed resulting in an unusually high number of young ospreys out of nests during the survey but located near nests. Eight more nests are believed to have been active in 2001 based on young observed near nests for a total of 20 active nests in 2001. ** Four adult ospreys on two new platform nests before the survey date, counted in adult total (2003).
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Note: Several osprey nests are visited daily by boat from April through September to see ospreys and learn about these majestic birds and other wildlife during Lake Barkley Eco Cruises. Bald Eagles are visited from a respectful distance from April – June. Limited spaces are available for those wishing to participate in the annual osprey nesting survey at Lake Barkley. For information, contact edrayosprey@yahoo.com “Lake Barkley Eco Cruises” is a KEEP, Inc. sponsor.
Because the osprey population leveled off from 2004-2006 a survey was not conducted during 2007. KEEP is seeking more funding for platforms to see if installing 6-12 new platforms can again result in a significant increase of nesting ospreys. A new vocational school or welding shop is needed to volunteer to construct new platforms and support poles. KDFWR and COE support the placement of more quality osprey platforms at Lake Barkley. Several osprey pairs are nesting in high-risk locations. New platforms will help prevent egg and chick loss due to high winds and nest flooding. You can help KEEP meet these objectives with personal and/or corporate donations or active participation. To contribute to the KEEP osprey platform fund please click here.
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