Shorebird folks: Kindly keep an eye out for these marked Osprey in your travels.  Thanks, Peter
 
Have You Seen A Banded Osprey?
 
 
BioDiversity Research Institute, www.briloon.org, of Gorham, Maine, banded and color–marked approximately 70 Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) during the 2007 breeding season throughout a significant portion of the bird’s range in Maine. We are interested in any observations of Ospreys fitting the description below. 
 
Description: All Ospreys are banded with a USFWS silver aluminum band on one leg, and one anodized BLUE band (etched with two white vertical characters repeated several times around the band) on the other leg.  The characters on the blue bands are unique to individuals and can be reliably read by an observer using a spotting scope.  In addition, 6 adults are fitted with dorsally mounted VHF transmitters on their two central retrices. A whip antenna visibly extends beyond the end of the tail.  All banding, auxiliary marking and radio tracking activities were performed under appropriate State and Federal permits.
 
If you see a blue banded Osprey:  Please note the time, date and location of your observation, the leg of the bird which displayed the blue band, and any characters observed on the blue band (i.e., reported as “C over B”), the presence or absence of a transmitter antenna.  Information on the behavior of the Osprey during observation (i.e. flying, perched, fishing, eating) and the presence of other birds, especially Osprey, in the immediate area is also of interest. It is neither essential, nor expected, that each observer will note all of the above information. Partial reports are encouraged and welcomed.
 
Observed Osprey may be promptly reported to Chris DeSorbo, Raptor Program Director, by telephone at 1-207-839-7600 ext 115 or by e-mail:  [log in to unmask] Please pass this information along to other interested parties. 

Peter [log in to unmask] Springs, NY 13459