Alum Creek Osprey Migration Study 2006-2008
LAST TRANSMITTER STOPPED WORKING FALL 2007
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Male Osprey probably dead in Brazil…
Migration south 2007 - The male osprey departed from his nest site at Alum Creek Reservoir and began his migration south sometime between September 14th and 17th, 2007. Satellite radar detected a transmitter signal as he crossed from Florida to Cuba on September 20th around 10:00pm, and again as he landed in Cuba at 1:00 am on September 21. The male reached Colombia on September 26 and Venezuela on September 27.
As of October 26, 2007 the osprey was located in Brazil about 200 miles north of the group of Amazon River islands where he over-wintered for the last 2 years. He was near the town of Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira (see picture of town and river below). We were not getting very accurate locations from his transmitter. Explanations for this could be insufficient sunlight recharging the transmitter’s solar batteries or something was partially obscuring the solar panel. The transmitter signals were infrequent, which was also an indication of low battery power. The transmitter did not have a mortality switch, so we did not know if the male was dead or alive. It seemed strange that the osprey was hanging so close to an urban area since he had never been located near one previously.
June 2008 – We have not received a signal from the osprey since October 2007. We believe that he died or his transmitter quit working. We continued to check for signals from his transmitter until early summer 2008, but nothing was heard.
There are no further plans to put transmitters on more ospreys at this time. Observers can still watch for the ospreys each spring and summer at Alum Creek Reservoir.
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Links of interest:
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