Before satellite telemetry, our knowledge of Osprey migration was limited to the recovery of banded birds, which are almost always dead when recovered. So all we could tell was where a bird had been banded and where it was when it died. Now we are learning what Ospreys do on their travels to and from the wintering grounds. Another important benefit of the program is environmental education. In the process, they learn about raptors, migration, conservation, as well as geography, social studies, and math.
Fund raising is ongoing and off to a good start.
This season, the Vineyard Ospreys had their best year since Project Osprey Watch got underway in 1998. It may have been the best year since for Osprey reproduction on Martha's Vineyard since 1992. This translates to just over 1.5 fledged per active nest, up significantly from last year's 1.19. Click to see the full data set for all nests in 2000. Edgartown Great Pond wasn't opened to the ocean until quite late in the summer, to the delight of the Ospreys in that corner of the Island.