Lloyd Center Expands Osprey Territory

As the late summer movements of shorebird migration kick in, biologists are busy summarizing data for the nesting season for various species. For the Lloyd Center, this includes first and foremost, the shorebird nesting season which is on its home stretch. But first, we offer a brief summary of our osprey work, for which we conduct baseline checks of a cluster of platforms we manage and monitor. For many years the Center has overseen three platforms on the lower Slocums River in vicinity of Demarest Lloyd State Park and near the Center’s pier, and one on the inner portion of Little River that is connected to saltmarsh on Lloyd Center property near the “Lloyd Woods”.

Each year maintenance and/or installation tasks are completed before the birds arrive. Under the guidance of osprey expert Alan Poole, and with assistance from nearby property owners with interests in the project, we installed a platform on the Little River saltmarsh on the Center’s property, close to the existing platform. This platform was installed during the nesting season in May, so while not used this season, will also be of use for returning pairs next year.    

We are happy to report that for our existing platforms, five total fledges were produced, two on the Slocums and three on Little River. This includes our old platform, which has stood the test of time as the one long-standing platform in the lower Slocums estuary with consistent activity. This year, ospreys on that platform produced three eggs, and two fledges (one egg inviable), while the larger, taller one near Giles creek suffered nest predation.

Over at Little River, ospreys on the original platform closer to the estuary produced three eggs and three fledges for 100% success, welcome news for a pair that has suffered heavy predation in recent years. These fledges are important for recruitment into the osprey population, and perhaps will find mates and become nesting adults here in the future.

This mix of successes and losses is integral to the nesting season of any bird species, and part of the never-ending trial and error that inquisitive scientists face when doing this work.  Before next season and likely this fall, additional planned work includes replacing the old platform near Demarest Lloyd with a new sturdy structure, and installing a new one that is ready to go on an island near the Center’s pier. Until then, enjoy the busy osprey activity in all our estuaries as birds fill up with fish to get strong for the migration south, and stay tuned for the shorebird season wrap-up!