How does the situation in Connecticut compare to the Chesapeake Bay region?

The article states that the osprey population in the Chesapeake Bay region is facing an 80% failure rate in nests, which is attributed to a depletion in the menhaden population, a crucial food source for the birds.

What is the Connecticut Audubon Society doing to address the osprey decline?

The article mentions that the organization is launching a pilot project in 2026 to identify the primary fish species that Connecticut's ospreys depend on, in an effort to determine if a food source issue is contributing to the population decline.

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Osprey Population Decline Puzzles Connecticut Experts

Q: What is causing the decline in Connecticut's osprey population?

According to the article, researchers are investigating several potential factors, including the ospreys reaching their carrying capacity, weather conditions, and the availability of their primary food source, menhaden.

9 Nov

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Summary

Osprey population in Connecticut declining after years of recovery
Researchers launch study to determine causes of the decline
Chesapeake Bay ospreys facing 80% failure rate due to lack of food

Osprey Population Decline Puzzles Connecticut Experts

According to the Connecticut Audubon Society's annual State of the Birds 2025 report, the osprey population in Connecticut, which had previously been on the verge of extinction, has seen a remarkable comeback in recent years. However, the latest findings indicate that the numbers are now trending down from a year ago.

The report's editor, Tom Andersen, explains that the number of active osprey nests in the state has fallen from over 900 last year to around 800 this year, with a noticeable decline in fledglings as well. While the drop is not a seismic shift, it is enough to cause concern among the researchers.

The Connecticut Audubon Society is now launching a study to determine the underlying causes of this population decline. Andersen suggests that it could be due to a variety of factors, including the ospreys reaching their carrying capacity, with the birds struggling to find enough food to feed their young. Another potential factor is the weather, with a wet spring followed by drought conditions potentially impacting the nests.

In contrast, the report also highlights the dire situation facing ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia, where an 80% failure rate in nests has been observed. Conservationists believe this is due to a depletion in the population of menhaden, a small, oily fish that is a crucial food source for the predatory birds.

The Connecticut Audubon Society is now set to launch a pilot project in 2026 to identify the primary fish species that the state's ospreys depend on, with the hope of determining whether a similar food source issue is contributing to the decline in their population.

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