Register      Login
Emu Emu Society
Journal of BirdLife Australia
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > MU > MU04056
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 105(1)

The diet of the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) on the north coast of New South Wales

Greg. P. Clancy
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Zoology and Ecosystem Management, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

B Present address: PO Box 63, Coutts Crossing, NSW 2460 and National Marine Science Centre, Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia. Email: gclancy@tpg.com.au

Emu 105(1) 87-91 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU04056
Submitted: 19 June 2001  Accepted: 7 December 2004   Published: 31 March 2005

Abstract

Food taken by Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) was assessed at nine nests in the Clarence Valley, in north-eastern New South Wales, from 1991 to 1996 by observing food taken to nests and collecting remains below nests. Opportunistic observations and collections were also made at other nests and feeding sites on the north coast of New South Wales. The diet consisted primarily of mullet species, particularly the Sea Mullet (Mugil cephalus), and Yellowfin Bream (Acanthopagrus australis). The diet differed from that of Ospreys in the Great Barrier Reef, but was similar to that in other subtropical and tropical areas of the world.


Acknowledgments

I thank Hugh Ford and Harry Recher who supervised my Master of Science project, which forms the basis of this paper. Warren Thompson, Russell Jago and others accompanied me on the many trips ‘down river’ and their company and assistance was much appreciated. Assistance with identifying fish remains was given by Dr John Paxton, Mark McGrouther, Brooke Ewarte and other staff members of the Ichthyology Section of the Australian Museum, Sydney; Jeff Johnson, Fish Department, Queensland Museum; Javad Ghasemzadeh, School of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University and Dr Barry Hutchins, Western Australian Museum of Natural Science. The Clarence River Fisherman’s Co-operative kindly provided access to mullet specimens for analysis. My wife Val provided moral support and graciously accepted the time constraints imposed by the study. Two anonymous referees greatly improved this paper. All of the above, and those inadvertently overlooked, are thanked.


References

Carrs, D. N. , and Brockie, K. (1994). Prey remains at Osprey nests in Tayside and Grampian, 1987–1993. Scottish Birds 17, 132–145.
Clancy G. P. (2000). The breeding biology, feeding ecology and diet of the Osprey Pandion haliaetus cristatus in north-eastern New South Wales. M.Sc. Thesis, University of New England, Armidale.

DesGranges, J.-L. , Rodrigue, J. , Tardif, B. , and Laperle, M. (1998). Mercury accumulation and biomagnification in Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in the James Bay and Hudson Bay Regions of Quebec. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 35, 330–341.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Marchant S., and Higgins P. J. (Eds) (1993). ‘Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 2: Raptors to Lapwings.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne.)

Moyle P. B., and Cech J. J.Jr (1982). ‘Fishes: an Introduction to Ichthyology.’ (Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ.)

Olsen P. D. (1995). ‘Australian Birds of Prey.’ (University of New South Wales Press: Sydney.)

Poole A. (1989). ‘Ospreys: A Natural and Unnatural History.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Poole A. F. (1994). Family Pandionidae (Osprey). In ‘Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl’. (Eds J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott and J. Sargatal.) (Lynx Edicions: Barcelona.)

Safriel U. N., Ben-Hur Y., and Ben-Tuvia A. (1985). The diet of the Osprey on Tiran Island: management implications for populations on the northern Red Sea islands. In ‘Conservation of Island Birds’. Proceedings of a symposium held at the XVIII ICBP World Conference, Cambridge, England, August 1982. (Ed. P. J. Moors.) (ICBP Technical Publication No. 3.)

Saunders D., and de Rebeira C. P. (1985). ‘The Birds of Rottnest Island.’ (Privately published: Guildford, WA.)

Savory, R. (1989). Prey remains from Osprey and White-bellied Sea-eagle nests on North Keppel Island. Queensland Naturalist 29, 76–77.3–6
Thomson J. M. (1972). The migrations of fishes. In ‘A Treasury of Australian Wildlife’. (Ed. D. F. McMichael.) (Ure Smith: Sydney.)

Walker, T. A. (1987). Notes on relationships between Ospreys and other birds. Sunbird 17, 96–97.


Wiley, J. W. , and Lohrer, F. E. (1973). Additional records of non-fish prey taken by Ospreys. Wilson Bulletin 85, 468–470.