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Its a Bird, Its a Plane, Its an Osprey !. Exploring the Interaction Between Bird and Human. Osprey Live Everywhere, Except Antarctica. Osprey & Fishermen. Osprey can catch up to 10 fish a day Osprey eat about 80 different kinds of fish
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Its a Bird, Its a Plane, Its an Osprey! Exploring the Interaction Between Bird and Human
Osprey & Fishermen • Osprey can catch up to 10 fish a day • Osprey eat about 80 different kinds of fish • Some fishermen believed that Osprey competed with them for fish • Some fishermen killed Osprey to protect “their” fish • Killing of Osprey by fishermen reduced the Osprey population • Studies have shown that Osprey have no effect on human fishing (http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Pandion_haliaetus)
Osprey and DDT • DDT was a pesticide used in the US in the early 20th century • People did not know it was harmful • DDT leaked into the soil • Soil and DDT washed into waterways • Fish got DDT inside them • Osprey eat fish 99% of the time • Osprey got DDT inside of them • DDT made Osprey egg shells fragile • Osprey eggs broke before they could hatch • DDT reduced the Osprey population • Osprey became an endangered species • In 1972 DDT was banned • The Osprey population is coming back • Osprey are no longer endangered
Osprey & Students • In 2009 Students in Florida wanted to make the Osprey the new state bird in Florida • More than 28,299 students voted for the change as part of a civics lesson during the last presidential election • The Florida State legislature failed to ratify the Osprey as the new state bird of Florida because they said they had more important things to do • The state bird of Florida is still the mockingbird.
Osprey Nesting Platforms • Some people use Osprey habitat to build houses • Some people do not want Osprey around • Sometimes Osprey nests are taken over by other birds like owls, eagles and Canada Geese • There are organizations *that build nesting platforms for Osprey to encourage the population to grow • The Audubon Society has a live nest cam • *Conservation groups, businesses power companies, even health care workers
Sources of Information: • http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/osprey/ • http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Pandion_haliaetus/ • http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wildlife/article1034493.ece • http://www.nhaudubon.org/osprey-monitoring-and-management • http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/live-osprey-cam • You Tube video: Osprey Catching fish • Google Images: Flying, map, nesting, fishing, eggs, nesting platforms