Osprey Questions

[castnshoot]

I have a few questions for Utah fishermen concerning Osprey on your
favorite body of water.

I am asking this question because I have been offered to have a nesting pole placed on my property at Minersville as part of a mitigation program.

1. Do you enjoy seeing them fish, or would you rather not have them around.
2. Do you think they affect the quality of your fishery.
3. Do you know if your body of water has a nesting pair, if so do you know where it is at, if so, is it on a natural structure or a man made structure, and if you know how ,long has it been in use?
4. Do you have any insight as to why I should, or should not go forward?

Thanks

[gofish435]

Interesting questions.

I like having osprey around when I'm fishing.  They can be very entertaining to watch, especially if the fishing is slow. 

There is a nesting pair that are on a platform at an urban fishery near me that are fun to watch.  They help clean up after the hatchery truck casualties and the folks that don't know how to catch and release properly.   

I've had them come after fish that I have had on in my tube.  

For what it's worth, I don't know what kind of problems they might create but I think having a platform on your property would be a good thing. 

[wiperhunter2]

1. Do you enjoy seeing them fish, or would you rather not have them around.
2. Do you think they affect the quality of your fishery.
3. Do you know if your body of water has a nesting pair, if so do you know where it is at, if so, is it on a natural structure or a man made structure, and if you know how ,long has it been in use?
4. Do you have any insight as to why I should, or should not go forward?

Osprey are cool, just like bald eagles and yes I enjoy seeing them.
I do think they have some effect on at least one fishery I was fishing last year, Lost creek. I found several kokes I caught that had claw marks on their bodies. 
Yes, there is at least one nesting pair at that lake. I know the general location of where they nest and it is in a rocky cliff. The nest has been there several years.
My thoughts on them is, it is likely they will be feeding on trout in your lake, when they are near the surface, how much trout they will take is unclear, maybe the DWR could answer that question.

[packfish]

I have watched them from Montana to Florida. . Had them crash the water right beside me many times and take fish right beside me. I have watched them steal fish from Eagles. Cool efficient prey birds. Unless its a pond I cant believe they would have a detrimental affect on a reservoir.

[lovetofish]

There was one that hung out on the east side of Rockport this past summer and it was fun to watch it. I can't see that they would take that many fish to hurt the fishing. I'd say go for it. It would probably give you quite a bit of enjoyment watching it.

[fishnate]

I love watching ospreys! We have at least 3 pairs all on artificial structures at Steinaker in eastern Utah. They've been using them for many years. We also have multiple pairs of bald eagles at the lake and there's no way they seriously impact that fishery. Cormorants and pelicans are way worse from my observations. The ospreys are legendary at the Gorge, most of them are on natural structures.

[BearLakeFishGuy]

I'd rather have an osprey pick off a fish or two instead of a cormorant (or a flock of cormorants) that will clean out a stocked fishery in short order. The osprey will pick fish off the surface or slightly under it. Those are typically wounded fish or those that will not make it anyway. The comorants will dive and seek after fish in depths of nearly 100' of water! The osprey are majestic birds and add to the outdoor experience in my opinion and don't have huge flocks like cormorants either. There are quite a few nesting pairs of osprey around the Bear Lake area and I have also seen them at Porcupine and Newton. Your final question can only be answered by you, but I would think you'd be proud to say you have allowed UDWR (or whomever) to put in an osprey nesting platform. However, I'd ask that the agency you are dealing with give you the option to remove the platform if it is taken over by cormorants.

[Mr. J]

I have a few questions for Utah fishermen concerning Osprey on your
favorite body of water.

I am asking this question because I have been offered to have a nesting pole placed on my property at Minersville as part of a mitigation program.

1. Do you enjoy seeing them fish, or would you rather not have them around.
2. Do you think they affect the quality of your fishery.
3. Do you know if your body of water has a nesting pair, if so do you know where it is at, if so, is it on a natural structure or a man made structure, and if you know how ,long has it been in use?
4. Do you have any insight as to why I should, or should not go forward?

Thanks

1. yes, I think they are a lot of fun. If the platform is visible from your home you will be entertained for hours. Something to note is that it could take a couple years before the birds take to it.
2.No, as mentioned those other birds are much more likely to mess up a good fishery.
3. Yes and yes. I often make  a trip the early part of the year to watch and see if there is a knew hatch. The nest is on a man made platform. I have only known of the nest for six years.
4. I like watching birds of all species. If you like watching wild life I think you will enjoy watching the Osprey.

rj

[castnshoot]

Thanks for all the replies. Most of you answered like I thought you would.

I think I will place it so that the Osprey will have to struggle with those fat Minersville Rainbows right past the view from my deck to get to the nest to feed their chicks.

Or should I place it so I can see the actual nesting activity from the deck?

[gofish435]

If it were me, I would place it where you can observe the nesting activity as long as there are no power lines or other hazards for them to negotiate.

[RockyRaab2]

A nesting platform and a decent telescope will provide many hours of wonderment for you. At next to no cost to the fishery.

[castnshoot]

A nesting platform and a decent telescope will provide many hours of wonderment for you. At next to no cost to the fishery.

Yes I have a scope on the deck or just inside the glass slider when it is real cold. Over the years I have spent many the hour on the scope.

My bird list from the deck is too long to list. As for mammals I see deer, elk, antelope, bighorn sheep, (so called) wild horses, mountain lions, bobcats, weasel, badgers, beavers, coyotes,,,,,,,,

In the spring when the water warms up I can see the schools of Wipers sunning them selves just below the surface with the spotting scope.

Just can’t decide if I want to put something man made in the view of the deck.

[lovetofish]

I'd rather have an osprey pick off a fish or two instead of a cormorant (or a flock of cormorants) that will clean out a stocked fishery in short order.  The osprey will pick fish off the surface or slightly under it.  Those are typically wounded fish or those that will not make it anyway.  The comorants will dive and seek after fish in depths of nearly 100' of water!  The osprey are majestic birds and add to the outdoor experience in my opinion and don't have huge flocks like cormorants either.  There are quite a few nesting pairs of osprey around the Bear Lake area and I have also seen them at Porcupine and Newton.  Your final question can only be answered by you, but I would think you'd be proud to say you have allowed UDWR (or whomever) to put in an osprey nesting platform.  However, I'd ask that the agency you are dealing with give you the option to remove the platform if it is taken over by cormorants.

When I still had my winter home in St. George I used to fish (fly & bubble and release) the community pond that was two minutes from my house. The DWR would stock the ponds about every 10 days. The cormorants would eat so many of the stocked trout that they had a very hard time flying. It was comical to watch them. They would run around on top of the water flapping their wings trying to lift off. When they finally did they would circle the pond trying to gain altitude. The next day they would be back again only to stuff themselves all over again. I think they took more trout than the fishermen did.

[castnshoot]

Well they got the platform up,, but just a little late for this years nesting activity. The biologist stopped by yesterday and she was confident they will use it.







The fishing has been really good lately. Almost maybe as good as just before the last crash.

The 18 to 24 inch fat rainbows have kind of been been pesky as I try to get the schooling wipers bite in the very clear water,,, for Minersville.

Here is a 25” Wiper that I was able to trick with a 3” Ned rig Z Man ,, rigged with just a hook,, no weight,, sight fishing,, what fun.

[gofish435]

Thanks for the update.

It's too bad they didn't get the platform up sooner but I'll bet you will enjoy it for next year.

That is one healthy wiper.  I'll bet that was fun to bring in.

[lovetofish]

Great catch on the Wiper, that thing is a hog. Thanks for the report.

[castnshoot]

Great catch on the Wiper, that thing is a hog. Thanks for the report.

Made a big batch of tacos for a family get together the day after the catch.

[castnshoot]

Great catch on the Wiper, that thing is a hog. Thanks for the report.

Made a big batch of tacos for a family get together the day after the catch.