Volunteer With Us
Why Monitoring Is Important
Being able to determine the number of chicks that progress to become fledglings (those that can fly from the nest) each year is important information in ascertaining whether the population of Ospreys in the Tweed Valley are recovering. There are a number of factors that impact on chick mortality including weather, availability of food, predation, quality of parental care, and accidental death of a parent through collision with vehicles, entanglement with fishing gear and the like. The quality of the data collected by the Tweed Osprey Group depends, in part, on the number of nests able to be monitored.
Get In Touch
If you would like to help out please contact our coordinator, Faye Hill.
coordinator@tweedospreys.au
FAQs
The data collected by our volunteers helps give a picture of how our Osprey population is faring, and it also helps to inform those entrusted with making decisions that impact Ospreys.
No it also a guardian like role where the volunteer monitors the nesting area and birds for hazards such as fishing line entanglement.
As often as you can. However, every week or two weeks for at least 15 minutes is good.
Not at all. We just need enthusiasm, a commitment to regularly monitor a nest, and a spotting scope, pair of binoculars or good camera with a zoom lens.
People often think they are looking at a chick because they see a head low in the nest, but it could be an incubating adult. Others can think that the calling they hear is a chick begging but it could be the female calling. It is not easy to identify chicks in the nest while they are very young. Sometimes you can determine chicks are present as you may observe the parents ripping up fish and feeding them to the young ones. Also take a look at the Port Lincoln Osprey Live Cam.
Supporters of Ospreys in the Tweed Valley
BirdLife Northern Rivers
This local branch of Birdlife Australia lobbies and does all manner of work in collecting data about bird numbers and promoting bird conservation. They provide advice and support for the Tweed Osprey Group.
Tweed Shire Council
The Tweed Shire Council has been actively involved in Osprey conservation for years. They have been important in educating the community about Ospreys, the erection of artificial cradles on poles for nesting, and undertake ongoing maintenance to ensure their integrity. This in turn has been critical for the recovery of Ospreys numbers here in the Tweed Valley.
NSW National Park and Wildlife Service
The NSW National Park and Wildlife Service has been an active supporter of Osprey conservation. They have provided technical advice on a range of matters.
Essential Energy
When dealing with installing or fixing damaged artificial nesting cradles, which involves height, Essential Energy have helped out with their equipment on many occasions.
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital
On occasion we have had an injured or very sick bird needing specialist care. Currumbin Wildlife Hospital are simply excellent at what they do.