I think the increase in early Osprey detections (and winter
sightings) is partly attributable to the recovery of Osprey
numbers as a result of endangered species protection (even
though this was mostly peripheral Bald Eagle protection)
and control of DDT and other bio-accumulating toxins.

I pulled the Christmas bird count numbers for Oregon (they
happen to be the ones I have a complete database for) and
noted the following from 1970 to 1999.

x
x x
x x
x x x x
x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
-----------------------------------------------------------
7 8 9
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
-----------------------------------------------------------
1 0 0 0 2 0 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 2 4 3 2 4 3 2 7 6 3

Osprey numbers are on the increase and I think this will
translate into more overwintering birds and early spring
detections.

WAYNE WEBER wrote:
>
> Tweeters,
>
> It is evident that, on rare occasions, the occasional Osprey will show
> up in western Washington or southwestern BC as early as the last week
> of February. The bird seen at Tradition Lake by Rachel Lawson on
> Sunday and by Hugh Jennings et al. on Monday is clear evidence of
> that. However, my best information is still that Osprey sightings any
> time prior to mid-March are very rare and unusual.
>
> In the Vancouver, BC area, I have Osprey spring arrival dates for 22
> years. The average (mean) arrival date is March 30, although most of
> the arrival dates were in early April. There are four exceptionally
> early arrival dates: Feb. 21, 1971; Feb. 27, 1980; March 5, 1992; and
> March 6, 1988. Other than these 4 years, the earliest arrival date I
> have for Vancouver (where several pairs nest) is March 23.
>
> In "Birding in Seattle and King County" by Eugene Hunn (1982), the
> bar-graph for Osprey shows records into late December, but no January
> or February records, and no spring records earlier than mid-March. The
> text comments that Ospreys arrive "each March" at the Carnatian Marsh.
>
> It may be that quite a few early arrival dates for Ospreys-- prior to
> mid-March-- have been recorded for King County or elsewhere in western
> Washington since 1982. (Gene or anyone else-- do you have details of
> any such records?) However, all the information that I have suggests
> that Osprey records in February are very unusual in Washington or B.C.
> That is why I questioned the 7 Ospreys reported in Washington on the
> Great Backyard Bird Count.
>
> Wayne C. Weber
> Kamloops, BC
> contopus at home.com

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