Nest-site selection by Eastern Osprey Pandion haliaetus cristatus in coastal south-eastern Queensland

Abstract

Ospreys Pandion sp. are found worldwide, and are well known for nesting on anthropogenic structures, especially in highly developed urban coastal areas. In Australia, Eastern Ospreys P. haliaetus cristatus often nest on a variety of artificial structures, although little study has yet been conducted on this behaviour, particularly in rapidly urbanising areas such as south-eastern Queensland. We investigated the characteristics of Eastern Osprey nest-sites while surveying ~200 km of coastline by boat. Two areas with contrasting urbanisation levels were inspected: the highly urbanised coastline fringing the Moreton Bay Marine Park (MBMP), and the less-developed coastal area within the Great Sandy Marine Park (GSMP). Nests in both areas had similar levels of exposure and aspect. In MBMP, significantly more nests were found on artificial structures, such as communications towers and navigation beacons, than in GSMP. The selection of these artificial structures potentially increases the risk of harm to the birds and may affect the functioning of the devices, with possible implications for human safety. With increasing human populations in south-eastern Queensland, the provision of alternative nesting options, such as strategically placed platforms, needs to be considered to ensure the continued breeding success of Ospreys in the region and to minimise conflict with humans.