Are Ospreys Endangered? (Threats, Numbers + FAQs)

Osprey (prawns) is a large fishing eagle that is found almost all over the world. These magnificent birds can be seen feeding along fresh and salt waterways on every continent except Antarctica. Like many other species, these birds face many threats. But are they endangered?

Ospreys are no longer endangered. Their numbers are on the rise following a widespread ban on the use of DDT and legal protections imposed by conservation agencies. These magnificent birds are once again common in the United States. Their numbers are still low in the UK but are rising steadily.

The return of the osprey is an inspiration and confirmation that threatened species can make a comeback in the modern world. These birds may be safe today, but their numbers told a very different story in the 20th century.

A combination of direct persecution and bioaccumulation by harmful pesticides has caused their numbers to plummet, and they have disappeared in parts of their range for decades.

This article reveals the past and present of Osprey. Read on to learn about the threats they faced and the challenges they overcame.

Fortunately, ospreys are no longer endangered and their numbers are steadily increasing across most of their range

Why are ospreys endangered in the United States?

The number of American ospreys declined rapidly in the mid-twentieth century due to the widespread use of pesticides, the worst of which was DDT. If ingesting the chemical is toxic to birds, its effects on raptors are less immediate but equally damaging.

Pesticides accumulate in their prey and move up the food chain. High concentrations can affect osprey egg production, causing osprey eggshells to be thin, brittle, and crack and crack during hatching.

Ospreys aren’t the only species affected by these chemicals. They also endanger iconic birds such as peregrine falcons and bald eagles.

The American osprey isn’t the only one that’s threatened. Read on to learn about their history in the UK.

Osprey fishing for trout

Why are ospreys endangered in the UK?

The osprey was wiped out in Great Britain and became locally extinct by the early 1900s. Direct persecution in Britain and Europe resulted in their deaths. Hunters shoot them for their skins, while their gorgeous eggs are taken by collectors.

Are any osprey populations endangered?

Osprey populations are considered healthy, so most of the world’s ospreys are no longer endangered. However, they remain endangered in North Africa.

An osprey perches on a rocky ridge in the Sahara desert

When Are Ospreys Endangered?

By the 1800s, the osprey was in decline in Britain. They were extinct in England by the mid-1800s, although they persisted in Scotland until about 1916. It took nearly 40 years before they returned to nest near Inverness, Scotland.

The population will not rebound as DDT use continues to kill eggs. Progress was slow, but by the turn of the millennium, ospreys were back in England to breed. However, their return is not without help.

Ongoing work by conservation groups and volunteers sees the population continue to increase into the 21st century.

Osprey soaring through clear blue sky

What threat is the Osprey?

Like all birds, ospreys face a variety of natural threats in their environment. However, direct and indirect human impacts are the greatest risk to the species.

Read on to learn more about the threats they face.

natural threat

• prey: Ospreys have relatively few natural enemies. However, adults occasionally fall prey to other birds of prey such as great horned owls and goshawks. Animals like raccoons feed on their eggs.
• disease: Ospreys are susceptible to common bird diseases such as aspergillosis and fowl cholera.
• extreme weather: Heat waves, cold snaps, hail, hurricanes and tornadoes are all examples of weather threats. These can kill adults, but are especially dangerous to eggs and chicks.

Male Osprey perched on a branch with a recently caught fish

How have humans affected ospreys?

Humans affect ospreys by directly interfering with them and destroying the natural ecosystems on which they depend. Overfishing reduces their natural food supply, and entanglement in nets and lines can also lead to death. Ospreys also collide with our buildings, power lines and other large structures like wind turbines.

DDT was banned in the US in 1972 and the UK in 1986, although this harmful pesticide is still used in some countries today. Heavy metals such as mercury in the environment also accumulate in these raptors and can be a major cause of egg death.

What is the biggest threat to the Osprey?

The biggest threat to ospreys today is the degradation of their natural habitat. Environmental pollution from industry, forestry and agriculture affects their ecosystems by altering their habitats, reducing their prey populations and poisoning birds.

As top predators in the environment, persistent chemicals accumulate in ospreys, so even low levels of pollutants are amplified in their tissues.

Natural habitat loss and degradation is one of the biggest threats to ospreys

How can we help Ospreys?

Limiting pollution, development, and overfishing is critical to the long-term survival of ospreys. We can also help them by protecting them from disturbance while nesting and building artificial nest platforms to encourage reproduction.

Osprey populations are recovering well, and global populations continue to increase. The best way to help ospreys and ensure their continued success is to protect their natural habitats.

These birds need healthy freshwater and marine environments and abundant fish stocks to survive.

How many ospreys are left in the wild? (Osprey population)

Estimates of the population size of this widespread bird are difficult, although there may be as many as 1.2 million individuals. This is an impressive increase since their population was estimated to be only around 30,000 pairs in the early 1980s.

In the United States, the number of ospreys has increased dramatically, with perhaps 400,000 adult birds today. According to BirdLife International, there may be between 9,600 and 13,600 breeding pairs in Europe, although the number in the UK is estimated at only around 240.

Osprey populations have grown dramatically thanks to successful conservation programs

How rare is it to see an Osprey?

Most ospreys are migratory, but they are common in certain areas during spring and summer.

Every spring, the Chesapeake Bay area has the highest concentration of osprey breeding. American birders can even spot these majestic eagles year-round in places with mild winters like Florida and southern California.

Ospreys are not very common in the UK, although their numbers are increasing. Bird watchers are most likely to spot them by visiting known breeding grounds in Scotland.

They can also be seen around their breeding grounds at Llyn Brenig in North Wales or in the Rutland Waters Nature Reserve near Oakham.

Osprey perched on tree stump

Which country has the most ospreys?

The United States has the largest osprey population with an estimated 400,000 adults. However, ospreys are migratory over most of their widespread range, so their numbers fluctuate seasonally. Sweden has the largest population of ospreys in Europe with more than 4,000 pairs.

Is it illegal to kill an osprey?

It is illegal to disturb or kill an osprey. They are protected by state and federal laws in the United States, and it is illegal to disturb them while breeding.

Why is the Osprey important?

A healthy osprey population is a good indicator of fish population health and the proper functioning of aquatic and marine ecosystems. These birds are the only members of their genus and the only surviving members of the family Pandionidae.

Few animals prey on ospreys, but many other birds use their sturdy nests, including other large birds of prey such as great horned owls, which do not build their own nests.

Perched Osprey Takes Off

common problem

Are Ospreys Protected?

Ospreys are a protected species. They are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the US and the Wildlife and Countryside Act in the UK. Ospreys are traded globally under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Are Ospreys Endangered in Michigan?

Ospreys were once threatened across the United States, and their numbers declined dramatically in the mid-1900s. They recovered well after DDT was banned in 1972 and were officially removed from Michigan’s endangered species list in 2009.

Are Ospreys Endangered in Florida?

Ospreys are not threatened in Florida. The species was removed from the state’s list of threatened and endangered species in 2018.