Researchers found that ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay have a lower reproductive rate, with many nests failing to produce young, possibly due to a lack of Atlantic menhaden.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is studying the potential impact of commercial menhaden harvesting on osprey breeding and fish populations in the Chesapeake Bay.
While some scientists suggest food scarcity is affecting ospreys, the overall population is not in immediate danger due to their long lifespan and ability to withstand temporary reproductive dips.
Key quote:
“A high proportion of failures after hatching and a larger proportion of one-chick broods is a clear sign of food stress.”
— Bryan Watts, director of the Center for Conservation Biology
Why this matters:
Ospreys rely on fish as their main food source, making them indicators of fish abundance. Their breeding success can signal changes in fish populations and ecosystems, affecting biodiversity and local fisheries.
Other Antarctic seabird colonies have also suffered steep population declines as researchers warn that global warming will take a toll on many ice-dependent species in coming decades.
Over the past 50 years, bald eagles in the U.S. have returned from the brink of extinction. Now, the birds perch on tree branches over rivers and lakes across much of the country. But as the climate changes, eagles will face new challenges.
Spring is normally the sweet spot for breeding songbirds in California’s Central Valley—not too hot, not too wet. But climate change models indicate the region will experience more rainfall during the breeding season, and days of extreme heat are expected to increase. Both changes are bad for songbird breeding.
