Photo Album

Osprey Nest Survey: Chester River- Summer 2006

In the summer of 2006, Author Jennifer Keats Curtis joined U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) biologist Peter McGowan and his colleague Randy Loftus on a day-long survey of 22 osprey nest on the Chester River in Maryland. "Thankfully, we saw several natural-looking nests, but we did find a significant-and appalling-amount of trash in many nests," says Curtis, "In abundance were some really weird things, like plush dog toys, sticky tape, plastic line, shredded plastic bags, braided rope, and lots of balloon ribbon." Curtis used this research and the ongoing work of McGowan to write the children's book Osprey Adventure. This photo album contains photos of the survey.

(Photos courtesy of Randy Loftus.)

A young osprey is not happy to be disturbed by biologists trying to clear trash from its nest.



Randy Loftus, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS), deftly climbs a battered, rusted metal ladder to check an osprey nest atop a Chester River marker.
(NOTE: The U.S. Coast Guard regulates these markers; it is illegal for civilians to climb them; however, USFWS permits allows biologists and certain staffers to do so for research purposes.)



USFWS biologist Peter McGowan steers the boat as Randy Loftus gently holds a baby osprey who has flown from a nest. The pair will place her back into the nest.



A young osprey peers menacingly over the brink of its nest as biologists attempt to check for debris and other materials that could hurt her.



Fledglings hover in and around a nest, near Chestertown.



Two fledglings in a nest on the Chester River. The one in the nest is trying to conceal itself from the human visitors by lying low and flattening its body to blend in with its nest.



Three young ospreys survey the river.



Randy Loftus yanks twine from an osprey nest before it can endanger the occupants inside.
The blue plastic bag was also removed.



A mother osprey soars back to her nest.



Author Jennifer Keats Curtis poses with biologist Peter McGowan.
McGowan helped Curtis research the plight of the ospreys for her new book, Osprey Adventure.


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