Project 06-292: Assessing BASH Risk Potential of Migrating and Breeding Osprey from the Mid-Atlantic Chesapeake Bay Region.

This project encompasses a collaborative multi-agency (state and federal) effort where breeding adult Osprey and nestlings were live-captured, fitted with GPS satellite transmitters, and released from selected nest locations in Back River on the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay of Virginia. Movements of Osprey are tracked via the ARGOS satellite network. Movement information collected from breeding Osprey will be cross referenced to Langley Air Force Base flying operations to develop GIS-based strike-risk models. In addition, migratory patterns of Osprey will be evaluated to assess the risk of migrating Osprey to military aircraft operations along the Eastern seaboard. Products provided by this research project are necessary for supporting legal requirements, justifying management recommendations, and determining effective solutions for reducing Osprey-strike risks on or near militiary airfields.
This research project is expected to continue until 2008.

Osprey Project: Monitoring and Predicting Migratory Bird Patterns

The project is currently on schedule and we are executing the satellite tracking, monitoring, mapping, and data management phases. In May 2006, the project team accomplished the first of two tagging sessions, when 6 nesting adult (3 female and 3 male) Osprey were live-captured from 5 nests located on duck hunting blinds located in the Back River adjacent to Langley Air Force Base. Each Osprey was banded, fitted with a 30-gram solar-powered satellite transmitter, and released at the nest site. The second tagging session occurred a month later (June 2006), when 4 Osprey fledglings from 2 duck blind nests were hand-caught, banded, and fitted with a satellite transmitter. Two fledglings were transported and released at State Wildlife Areas in Indiana (one at Minnehaha Wildlife Area in southwestern Indiana and the other at Jasper-Pulaski Wildlife Area in northwestern Indiana), while the other 2 Osprey fledglings were released at the collection nest site.


The project team has received more than 10,000 locations (8,076 from adults and 1,385 from fledglings) acquired from the ARGOS satellite network through a joint tariff agreement with CLS America. Location data arrived via email from the ARGOS processing center and included the date, time, altitude, flight speed, and location coordinates. The location of each Osprey is determined by the on-board GPS receiver every 2 hours for 20 hours each day (i.e., 10 locations per day per bird); GPS locations are transferred to the project team via the ARGOS system every 3 days. Upon receipt of data, project team members process the data and update the appropriate databases. A geo-database was created to store and display movement data of each bird using a geographic information system (GIS). We have received 244 days (May 15, 2006-Jan 14, 2007) of location data has been digitally processed using ArcView 9.1 (Environmental Systems and Research Institute) and evaluated for data transmission, geo-referencing, and mapping efficiency. Datasets are scheduled to be configured and imported into the geo-database at two-week intervals. The geo-database will serve as a critical tool during the analysis phase of the project and for delivering final products. Concurrently, draft maps displaying movement patterns are being generated and processed for web-based tracking and analysis applications.

We will continue to collect movement data throughout the coming year and will integrate this information with digital aeronautic flight information for analysis of Osprey-aircraft strike risk as it relates to both local movements of breeding Osprey (e.g., Osprey use of aircraft critical airspace) and spatial and temporal patterns of Osprey migration (e.g., timing and migration movements associated with military airfields and operating areas). From this information we will develop Osprey-strike risk models which will be essential for developing Osprey management plans to increase flight safety. We are very excited to have the opportunity to provide the DoD Legacy Resource Management Program with invaluable scientific based research that not only will reduce the risk of Osprey-aircraft collisions, but will provide new biological information and a better understanding of the ecology of breeding and migrating Osprey.

These efforts help to prevent bird and animal strikes with resultant loss of personnel and equipment, while also preventing inadvertent harm to bird and animal species. This program has three main thrusts: long-term monitoring of migratory bird habitat use and survivorship; monitoring and predictive modeling of movements during migration and in response to training activities using radar and satellite tracking; and monitoring birds of prey and water birds on training lands to comply with legal requirements. We will continue to support ongoing efforts as required. We also will invest in complementary projects that would enhance and broaden these efforts. All investments will be reviewed by and coordinated with DoD Partners in Flight and the DoD BASH program.