Osprey recovery sought through new management plan

They’re the water hawks — fish-eating raptors fast and feisty enough to compete for food with its distant cousin the bald eagle. Partially because osprey nests are often taken over by the larger eagle, ospreys have never been as widespread in Pennsylvania.

The eagle was removed from special protections when it reached state Game Commission population goals, but the osprey remains on the state’s threatened species list. With a new draft osprey recovery and management plan, the state hopes to increase their numbers.

In the 1960s and 1970s, pollution and insecticides hit the osprey hard, and in the early 1980s it was briefly declared extirpated in Pennsylvania. Reclassified as endangered, the population was boosted by a 17-year restoration effort in which 300 ospreys were released. The first successful nesting pair was observed in 1986. The Game Commission now counts 115 active osprey nests.

The new management plan sets a goal of establishing at least 50 nesting pairs with at least four watershedbased population clusters of 10 pairs or more. When the goal has been met for two consecutive years, a recommendation can be made to remove the osprey from the state’s threatened species list and reclassify it as “recovered.”

The osprey plan includes provisions for protection, research and public education. It can be reviewed at www.pgc.state.pa.us. Public comments will be accepted through Aug. 29. Email to osprey@pa.gov or send via postal mail to Osprey Recovery and Management Plan, Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797.

United conservationists

Since 1932, the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs has tried to provide a united, statewide voice for conservationists and their clubs. The federation hopes to explain its history and goals to sportsmen and sportswomen in a new six-minute video at www.pfsc.org.

Tops in trap

Ian Darroch of Aliquippa was recently tapped as Trap Shooter of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Sportsmen’s Association, for his performance in 2014 competition. At the recent Amateur Trapshooting Association eastern zone shoot at Elysville, Northumberland County, Darroch broke a field high 99 to win the doubles crown. Other local winners were Frank Pascoe of New Castle and Ian Fleming of Manor.