The e-mail below was sent by Matt Medler 7 yrs. ago in response to a
question asked by Linda Van Buskirk. With numerous folks mentioning
osprey sightings, it seems like an informative e-mail to re-send. For
you "newbies" in the hobby, Matt Medler was always someone who would
find an answer to a "dumb" or puzzling question ... indeed a wonderful,
patient, MUCH appreciated help to inexperienced birders. We have MANY
people in the hobby who are quick to help & I thank them.
While this osprey information was sent in March 2008 it seems relevant
to 2015 as some of us have become aware of the increasing numbers of
ospreys & nests in the Cayuga Basin. We're thankful that Robyn Bailey,
her husband & NYSEG have worked together to have protected, elevated
nesting platforms placed securely atop utility poles.
After my report of finding about 18 or 20 nests here at the north end of
Cayuga Lake last spring, Candace Cornell *_cec222@gmail.com_* was given
the opportunity to be the "official" record keeper. I would ask that all
osprey sightings be posted, giving exact locations of nests so Candace
can document them. She would appreciate if any birder can keep track of
nests they see & record when birds, & how many, hatch. And down the
line, when they fledge. She can give more information to those desiring it.
Matt, if I failed to see it & you have updated this information, please
post it (again).
Fritzie, Union Springs
Subject: Osprey and other spring arrival dates
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:16:56 -0400
From: Matthew Medler <m...@cornell.edu>
Hi Linda and All,
Information on Osprey and other arrival dates for the Cayuga Lake Basin
can be found at the Cayuga Bird Club web site at:
_http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/firstrecords.htm_
In addition to First Records lists for 1998 to 2008, this page also
includes two different arrival lists. The first is a list of historical
arrival dates, prepared by Dr. Charles Smith based on data from 1903 to
1993. The second is a list of arrival dates that I prepared based on
Basin sightings from 1999 to 2004. I plan to update this second list
with ten-year averages after this spring migration.
The average arrival date for Osprey on Dr. Smith's list is April 12.
During the past decade, the arrival date for Osprey has been about two
and a half weeks earlier. The median arrival date on the list that I
compiled for 1999-2004 is March 26, and this is also the median date in
looking at records from 1998 to 2007. The arrival date for Osprey was
amazingly consistent during those ten years, with 9 of the 10 records
coming in a six day span (March 23 to March 28).
John and Fritzie Blizzard's sighting on March 16 this year (March 17 for
a non-leap year) is notably early, even compared with the past ten
years. It is interesting to see that the next sighting of the species
didn't come until ... March 26 (March 27 for a non-leap year).
Good birding, Matt Medler
Niskayuna
Linda P Van Buskirk wrote: What's the current accepted date of osprey
arrival? I remember some discussion last year, but not the specific date
that they were expected to arrive. Linda
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