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W.Va. Wildlife with Paul Bender
W.Va.'s TOP FISHERMAN IS A BIRD
Paul Bender
July 7, 2004
Reporter: Paul Bender
Videographer: Brad Rice
It may be the best fisherman in the state, and it's a bird! Meet the Osprey.


W.Va. Wildlife from Eyewitness News



The Osprey, known as the fish hawk, and for good reason.

Kirt Piehler/Army Corps of Engineers Biologist - "It eats is live fish 99 percent of the time. This is the only raptor or bird of prey we have that plunges into the water feet first. It grabs the fish over the top of the back, the dorsal area, and then clamps down. They have fleshy nodules that helps to grip slippery fish.

W.Va. Wildlife from Eyewitness News



Ospreys tend to feed on fish not sought after by anglers.

Kirt Piehler/Army Corps of Engineers Biologist - "We find remains of Yellow Bull Head most commonly. Carp was found in 4 nests and crappie in 5 nests."

This year some channel catfish were found.

W.Va. Wildlife from Eyewitness News



Being an effective hunter requires excellent eye sight.

Kirt Piehler/Army Corps of Engineers Biologist -"Not only do they have to see the prey, they have to see it through a water column that might be murky."

W.Va. Wildlife from Eyewitness News



This is a baby Osprey, just about 40 days old. It was born a little bigger than a chicken egg and in a week it will make it's first flight.

And they will fly over West Virginia until September before making a long trip south.

W.Va. Wildlife from Eyewitness News



Kirt Piehler/Army Corps of Engineers Biologist - "They'll make it down to southern Central America or northern South America. That's where they will stay for two years. They will come back within this general area as three year old birds, ready to breed."

We are lucky to have Osprey in the Mountain State because they prefer large, open water bodies, such as found on the Atlantic coast. But actually they do well here.

W.Va. Wildlife from Eyewitness News



Jim Fregonara/DNR Biologist - "We have 10 to 12 active nest sites and each nest site will produce two to four young. The Osprey in West Virginia are slowly increasing partly because all the management we have been doing."

Ospreys are not endangered, but are a federally protected bird.

W.Va. Wildlife from Eyewitness News



Jim Fregonara/DNR Biologist- "There is no hunting season on the osprey. People can't bother their nests or the birds. And around all these nest sites there are markings, so people know they have to stay away.

If you want to see an Osprey, Stonewall Jackson Lake is a hot spot for viewing.


Links to learn more

The USGS: Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Live Osprey Web Cam

All about The Osprey

WV Bird Watching Areas

Get your Fishing license online: W.Va. Fish

Get your Hunting license online: W.Va. Hunt

WCHS-TV8 Online brings you the current Fishing Conditions Report updated every week.
GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA'S WILDLIFE
Visit WV DNR



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