Population status

Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)

Osprey populations in Canada are well monitored by the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), although coverage is restricted to the southern half of the species' breeding range. Still, BBS results suggest that Ospreys have increased in abundance by almost 200% since 1970. This result is seen across Canada (results for all Bird Conservation Regions with reasonably reliable results are displayed below). BBS results from throughout North America show an even larger increase in the continental population (~270%). It is interesting to note that Crewe et al. 2016 estimated trends during migration at Hawk Watch sites across the United States and a few sites in eastern Canada, and their results suggest that numbers of Osprey have decreased during migration in the Northeast and Gulf Coast of the U.S. over the short-term (2005-2016). However, it is difficult to determine how these results reflect on the status of Osprey populations in Canada, in part because the proportion of Canadian breeders migrating through these sites is unknown. Disagreement between these migration trend results and those from the BBS may also be due to changes in migration geography or behaviour in the species (Farmer et al. 2008). Because the Osprey was persecuted and affected by DDT (Farmer et al. 2008), resulting in low levels of abundance at the start of monitoring efforts, and its historical abundance remains unknown, a specific management goal relative to 1970 has not yet been set. However, with an increasing population trend, the Osprey is currently at an acceptable level relative to its national population goal (see Canada graph below).

 

Population goal and acceptable levels of variation

Species/groupGoalLower levelUpper level
OspreyTo be determined95th percentile of observed abundance (1970-2012)
Not applicable

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Table 1: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime Period Table 1 - footnote 1 Annual trend Table 1 - footnote 2 Limits
LowerUpper
Canada Select to view graph of the geographic area: Canada 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20162.41.23.6
Northern Pacific Rainforest Select to view graph of the geographic area: Northern Pacific Rainforest 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20160.9-1.43.7
Great Basin Select to view graph of the geographic area: Great Basin 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-201641.96.2
Northern Rockies Select to view graph of the geographic area: Northern Rockies 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20161.2-0.22.6
Boreal Hardwood Transition Select to view graph of the geographic area: Boreal Hardwood Transition 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20161.5-0.73.9
Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain Select to view graph of the geographic area: Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20166.64.68.9
Atlantic Northern Forest Select to view graph of the geographic area: Atlantic Northern Forest 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20162.11.13.1
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20162.92.33.4
 

References