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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:
chris.desorbo@briloon.org. Please pass this notice along to other
interested parties.
Peter Dohertyleasttern@hotmail.com Sharon Springs, NY
13459

Chip Hamilton
Bird Conservation Biologist
NYS DEC Region 1
50 Circle Road
SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY 11790
631) 444-0308