They’re Coming
It’s that time of year, again. They show up right around St Patrick’s day and stay all summer. No, not the tourists, the Osprey.
The western osprey (Pandion haliaetus carolinensis), is a large fishing raptor most often seen in Delaware’s inland bays building nests on man-made platforms. Usually taking bunker, mullet, and bluefish, many anglers report birds capturing flounder on the flats. Adults can weigh up to four and a half pounds with a wingspan just shy of six feet. Here in Delaware, osprey average about three and a half pounds.
At Cape Henlopen State Park, the birds are commonly seen on the bay near the fishing pier. They frequently nest in the fire control towers found on the bayside. The Seaside Nature Center in Cape Henlopen State Park has a live feed of one of these nests. Bald eagles have been seen taking their catches when they return.
Osprey populations declined in the mid-20th century, probably due to habitat loss and the effects of pesticides such as DDT, which can cause eggshell thinning. With the banning of certain pesticides, greater protections for birds of prey, and nesting platforms designed by organizations such as the Citizens United To Protect The Maurice River And It’s Tributaries, Inc., populations have seen significant recoveries.
Andrew Hansen, Wildlife/Forestry Conservationist, Naturalist
![osprey, delaware, sussex county, cape henlopen state park, fish hawk, bunker, raptor, migratory bird]()
Osprey carrying a bunker it just caught off the beach near Cape Henlopen State Park 
Osprey parents in the spring, mom sitting on her eggs. Dad on watch ![osprey, raptors, dewey beach nest, delaware, sussex county, fish hawk]()
Baby ospreys all grown up feeding on their catches in the nest. 
Baby ospreys all grown up feeding on their catches in the nest. ![osprey, delaware, sussex county, cape henlopen state park, fish hawk, bunker, raptor, migratory bird]()
Osprey carrying a bunker it just caught off the beach near Cape Henlopen State Park 
Osprey carrying a bunker it just caught off the beach near Cape Henlopen State Park ![osprey, raptors, migratory bird, bunker, birds of prey, delaware, sussex county, inland bays, delaware seashore state park, bethany beach, rehoboth beach, fenwick island, indian river, assawoman bay, lewes, cape henlopen state park]()
Osprey feeding near the Indian River Inlet 
Friends of Cape Henlopen Osprey can view of the mama osprey sitting on the eggs a few weeks ago. ![]()
Osprey feeding 
Osprey at the osprey cam in Lewes near Cape Henlopen State park ![]()
Paul Jonovic gets set to hold the osprey we help with the talons … photo by Art Sullivan 
Holding the talons and keeping the osprey in position to remove the line… photo by Art Sullivan ![osprey tagging, cape water tours and taxi, delaware, sussex county, migratory raptors, broadkill river, lewes canal, rehoboth bay]()
Baby Osprey removed from nest to be tagged 
Osprey eating a fish ![osprey, cape henlopen state park, hawk watch overlook, migratory raptor,]()
Osprey feeding in Cape Henlopen State Park 
The osprey we have been following all summer ![osprey, tri state bird rescue and research, osprey injuries, bird rescues, Frink Center for Wildlife]()
Osprey catching a fish … Photo courtesy of Kim Steininger 
Osprey nest platform in Long Neck Delaware ![Osprey, raptors, birds of prey, hunting birds, DNREC]()
Osprey hunting at the Indian River Inlet 
Osprey in Delaware Seashore State Park today flying off with a redfish caught from the surf…. photo by Mac Davis
Comments are closed.