August 28, 2006
Season's End
Nest Update: In the last few days, we've seen two brief views of an osprey on the platform, but we're not sure if it's one of ours. One female osprey that appeared on Sunday, right after the bald eagle left the nest, had a darker necklace than our cam mother. Our ranger says that there are ospreys still at other platforms around the Refuge, so the ospreys we're seeing may be visitors.
On Saturday we saw our first view of a bald eagle on the osprey platform, and in the past that has meant that our cam family is no longer around and is not defending the nest. The eagle was back again on Sunday, so he seems to be comfortable with visiting.
Right now it's still a bit warm, so the eagles are not staying on the nest (and out in the sun) for very long, but we hope to see more of them as the weather cools a bit. In the past, the eagles have also used the platform as a place to eat their fish, and the fish scraps will attract other birds, such as the vultures, crows, and herons. We also hope to get an evening glimpse of our Great horned owl again this year, as well as daytime shots of immature bald eagles and maybe some hawks.
Other Ospreys
Russ Yeaton, our photographer friend from Maine, sent us a couple more shots from his three-chick family at Spring Point Light in South Portland. This series of shots was taken after a young osprey attempted to catch a fish -- the bird missed the fish but got a good swim out of the experience. And Russ says that in this shot, a young osprey was walking through the saltwater and stopped to seemingly take a drink. We want to thank Russ for all the photos he's provided from his Maine nest -- they've given us a wonderful look at ospreys from a different region of the Atlantic Coast.
Also John Gudas, who is a cam watcher from our local South River, sent photos of a three-chick nest on the river. Here is the wide-angle shot of the family and their platform, and here is a close-up of the birds on the pier. Much thanks to John for photos of the handsome family.
And one last look at the Connecticut Osprey Cam, which had the nest with the little blue teddy bear that was brought in by a parent. Seems the bear is still in residence, but I guess it won't be going to South America with the ospreys. :-)
End of the Season
This is the last entry for the 2006 Osprey Cam Web Log. We'll continue to keep the Gallery open as long as the cam is live, so you can send in photos, and I'll update the message on the cam page with any interesting news we have about the visible wildlife.
Wildlife Refuge Caucus
I wanted to finish off the web log with suggestions for how you can help America's National Wildlife Refuge System, which includes our own Blackwater Refuge. Teddy Roosevelt created the National Wildlife Refuge System back in 1903, and today the system has over 540 refuges with over 40 million visitors annually. In addition, the Refuge System contributes over $400 million to local economies through activities such as hunting, fishing, environmental education, paddling, hiking, photography, and bird watching.
Friends groups (like the Friends of Blackwater) are nonprofit citizen support groups that help the refuges meet their conservation and public use goals. Friends' volunteers carry about 20% of the workload at wildlife refuges so that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can offer adequate services to the public.
But these are tough times for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Budgets are being slashed throughout the federal government, and the Refuge System is feeling the effects. In response to the budget cuts, the Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the region Blackwater Refuge belongs to) is planning to close several national wildlife refuges due to lack of funding. Blackwater will not be closed, but other refuges will lose their staff, volunteers, and visitor services.
National wildlife refuges often do not have the political pull in Congress in the same way that national parks do. So in the House of Representatives, long-time refuge supporters Ron Kind (D-WI) and Jim Saxton (R-NJ) are forming a bi-partisan Wildlife Refuge Caucus, and they are asking other members to join so they can work together to help the Refuge System. The members will work to do the following:
- Raise awareness of our Refuge System
- Create a voice for refuges in Congress
- Support adequate Refuge System budgets
- Support the six priority activities outlined in the Refuge Improvement Act (hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, wildlife observation, environmental education and interpretation)
- Support strategic growth of the Refuge System
You can help by contacting your congressional representative and urging them to join the Wildlife Refuge Caucus. Visit the Defenders of Wildlife website where you can email a message to your House member asking them to join the caucus if he or she has not yet joined. (The website form will make sure your email is sent to your current congressional representative.)
We greatly appreciate your help in building a strong Wildlife Refuge Caucus in Congress.
Duck Stamps
In addition to urging your representative to join the Wildlife Refuge Caucus, another way to help is by purchasing Federal Duck Stamps. Since 1934, Federal Duck Stamps have generated more than $700 million and protected over 5.2 million acres of waterfowl habitat in America, and this habitat feeds and houses about one-third of the nation's endangered and threatened species. Consequently, the Duck Stamp Program is considered one of the most successful conservation initiatives ever created.
Nearly 98 cents out of every dollar collected from the sale of Duck Stamps (and Duck Stamp merchandise) goes directly into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to purchase wetlands and wildlife habitat for inclusion into the National Wildlife Refuge System. Blackwater Refuge itself has benefited directly from this program, since Migratory Bird Conservation Funds have been used to purchase almost 20,000 acres for the Refuge.
Duck stamps today are federal licenses required for hunting migratory waterfowl, but they have a much larger purpose: Duck Stamps are now a vital source of funds for protecting wetlands, wildlife refuges, and endangered species -- especially in times of tight federal budgets. And since the number of hunters in America is falling, the program needs more conservationists and bird watchers to buy Duck Stamps.
Purchasing a $15 Duck Stamp is easy, and it will give you pride in knowing you're contributing directly to the protection of America's natural heritage. And Duck Stamps also give a valuable added benefit: if you are in possession of a current stamp, they give you free access to any U.S. National Wildlife Refuge open to the public. Visit our Duck Stamp page to learn more about buying a stamp or related merchandise.
Friends of Blackwater
And a final way that you can help is by supporting Friends groups such as the Friends of Blackwater. Visit our Support page to learn more about helping us accomplish our mission to protect and support Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. And if you are interested in supporting a national wildlife refuge in your neighborhood, visit RefugeNet to find a listing of Friends groups throughout the country.
Thanks to Everyone
I want to offer a final thanks to all our cam watchers for their time, photos, emails and enthusiasm. You've given us another great year with our Osprey Cam, and everyone at the Refuge greatly appreciates your support.
I'll be updating the Gallery later this week with some of our remaining osprey shots and any photos we get of the visiting bald eagles.
Until our next osprey season,
Lisa - webmaster
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