09/04/2026
This season, we had the privilege of working with Osprey Watch, a global community of observers focused on breeding ospreys.
The mission of Osprey Watch is to collect information on a large enough geographic scale to help researchers better understand and address three of the most pressing issues facing aquatic ecosystems: global climate change, declining fish stocks, and environmental contaminants.
Twice a month, we submitted an update on the nesting status of our standalone osprey platform along Bram Point. Over the course of the season, we got to watch the entire cycle unfold. From the ospreys building their nest, to caring for their young, watching the chicks grow, and finally seeing them take their first flights and leave the nest.
We’ve been especially fortunate that our local osprey population has not experienced the poor nesting results that have been reported in some other areas along the Atlantic Coast.
One reason may be the abundance of menhaden and other baitfish in the Sound. Ospreys are closely tied to healthy fish populations, and watching these birds successfully raise their young is a great reminder of how connected everything is in our coastal ecosystem.
A healthy Sound supports healthy fish populations. Healthy fish populations support predators like ospreys and dolphins. And those predators give us another window into the overall health of the ecosystem we’re fortunate enough to call home.
