By Larissa Smith, Biologist & Volunteer Manager
Rope and fishing line found in an osprey nest © Matt Tribulski
Ospreys love to bring garbage back to their nests. While out checking on nests I’ve found everything from rope, fishing line, flip flops, plastic bags, a Frisbee, hats and even a plastic crab in nests. The problem is that every year while volunteers and staff are checking on nests at least one chick is found entangled in this garbage. Fishing line gets caught around their feet and legs and a plastic bag can entangle a chick. If no one went out to check on these nests most of these chicks wouldn’t make it. It’s not only the chicks that suffer from the garbage we throw out. Adult ospreys have been found dead and hanging from fishing line. Ospreys and other species whose diet consists of mostly fish are particularly vulnerable to injury and death from fishing line and hooks. During a visit to an NJ eagle nest a chick was found with a fishing hook embedded in its mouth. I have also found horseshoe crabs and terrapins entangled in fishing line and these are just a few examples of how garbage effects wildlife.
Plastic bag in osprey nest © Matt Tribulski
There are some simple steps that we can all take to keep trash out of the environment.
- Pick up and dispose of any fishing line or hooks you use or find.
- Use reusable bags instead of plastic whenever possible and encourage others to do the same.
Thank you!
Tags: 2010, new jersey osprey project, osprey