OSPREY

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey nest on Santa Catalina Island, 1897
Abandoned Osprey nest photographed by J. S. Dixon,
San Clemente Island, 1920
Osprey nest seen by J. R. Pemberton,
H. W. Carriger, Dudley DeGroot
and O. W. Howard
San Clemente Island, 1927
PEMBERTON, John Rothwell "Bill" Additions to the known avifauna of the Santa Barbara Islands The Condor 30(2):144-148, March-April 1928


Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), also called fish hawks, are found near water in most parts of the world. The American osprey feed solely on live fish, and are usually seen hovering over water or roosting close to shore. Osprey plunge into the water feet first to grasp its prey. Although they were commonly seen around the Channel Islands historically, sightings have become much less frequent. Ospreys are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Falconiformes, family Pandionidae.


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SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND

1897 San Clemente Island: “Pandion haliaetus carolinensis—American Osprey. The Ospreys were quite abundant about the south end of the island, and there was hardly a rocky promontory or pinnacle which was not used as a nesting site. The nests were all either on pillars of rocks standing directly in the surf, or on over-hanging ledges close above the water. As usual they were bulky affairs of course sticks, lined with sea-weed and grasses. One nest I climbed to appeared at first sight to contain nothing, but on picking over a hummock of grass in the center, I discovered the set of eggs. The grass formed a felted mat or lid which was attached to the nest on one side, and when closed over the nest, perfectly concealed the eggs and protected them from cold. When lifted, the lid laid up on the side of the nest, leaving the eggs exposed. This is of course quite unusual, all the other nests examined were without any such adjunct. Five sets of fresh eggs were taken from March 29 to April 3. Eleven eggs average 2.48 x 1.86. Three eggs constituted a full set. On June 7, nests contained young from a few days old to nearly full-fledged. Four specimens of the American Osprey were taken—two adult males and two young...The party consisted of Joseph Grinnell, who had immediate charge of the expedition, and gave special attention to the ornithology and entomology of the islands; Horace Gaylord, who collected mammals; and Harry Gaylord and James Brittan [Britton] who devoted their time to archaeology. The party left San Pedro harbor May 11 in a large fishing schooner... [returning June 9, 1897]”
Grinnell, Joseph Report on the Birds recorded during a visit to the Islands of Santa Barbara, San Nicolas and San Clemente, in the Spring of 1897 Pasadena Academy of Sciences Publication No. 1, August, 1897 (26 pages).


1907 San Clemente Island: “Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. American Osprey. During January and February a number were seen. In March they were observed remodeling old nests along the northeast coast and two fresh sets were found: March 9, one of three; March 31, one of three. On April 2, I visited a colony of twelve or fourteen nests on the southeast coast. Here, incubation ranged from fresh to two-thirds advanced. One set of four eggs was secured, and another found; one egg of the latter set had been crowded out of the nest onto the rocks and broken. Nests varied in size from a few sticks and pieces of sea-weed to immense piles of sticks and kelp four to six feet in hight by three to five feet in diameter, cavity of the largest being (diameter) twelve inches by (depth) four inches. The majority of nests were built on columns of rock standing directly in the surf. ” [“Visits were made to Clemente in January, February, March, April and October, 1907.”]
Linton, C. B. Notes from San Clemente Island The Condor 10:82-86, March 1908


1984 San Cemente Island: “OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus). Formerly a common breeder (Grinnell 1897a; Breninger 1904: Linton 1908; Howell 1917; Willett 1912, 1933), now a rare visitor. Two modem records: one 13-20 Oct 1975 (Robert Cohen); one 13 Jun 1978 remained 3weeks (Jan Larson). SCI had the largest breeding populalion off the coast of California with 20 active nests found in 1907 (Linton 1908). Kiff (1980) reported that the last nest record was for 26 Mar 1927 and that the species was declining and may have ceased to breed by 1930. Persecution by humans, particularly shooting by fishermen, appears to have led to their decline, although Kiff (1980) speculated that "some deleterious change in food supply" could also have contributed to the Osprey's extirpation as a nester on the Channel Islands.”
The Birds of San Clemente Island, 1984


ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN  
San Clemente Island A. W. Anthony CMNH August 27, 1894 CMNH-20698 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
San Clemente Island Joseph Grinnell MVZ March 29, 1897 MVZ-187 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Eggs
San Clemente Island Joseph Grinnell LACM May 28, 1897 LACM-5994 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
San Clemente Island O. W. Howard WFVZ March 3, 1905 WFVZ-26137 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
San Clemente Island O. W. Howard WFVZ April 3, 1905 WFVZ-97066 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
San Clemente Island O. W. Howard WFVZ April 3, 1905 WFVZ-97067 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
San Clemente Island O. W. Howard WFVZ April 3, 1905 WFVZ-97068 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
San Clemente Island C. B. Linton WFVZ March 13, 1907 WFVZ-211127 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
San Clemente Island C. B. Linton FMNH March 31, 1907 FMNH-130728 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
San Clemente Island C. B. Linton CAS April 2, 1907 CAS-35627 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
San Clemente Island C. B. Linton WFVZ April 2, 1907 WFVZ-97069 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Eggs
San Clemente Island Captain Ferguson WFVZ April 4, 1907 WFVZ-32401 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
San Clemente Island A. J. Van Rossem UCLA August 26, 1908 UCLA-11111 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
San Clemente Island Griffing Bancroft & Gordon Burnham WFVZ March 27, 1923 WFVZ-97061 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
San Clemente Island Dudley S. DeGroot WFVZ March 26, 1927 WFVZ-59971 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
San Clemente Island Henry W. Carriger WFVZ May 26, 1927 WFVZ-211236 Pandion haliaetus Eggs


SAN NICOLAS ISLAND

1897 San Nicolas Island: “Pandion haliaetus carolinensis—American Osprey. Tolerably common...The party consisted of Joseph Grinnell, who had immediate charge of the expedition, and gave special attention to the ornithology and entomology of the islands; Horace Gaylord, who collected mammals; and Harry Gaylord and James Brittan [Britton] who devoted their time to archaeology. The party left San Pedro harbor May 11 in a large fishing schooner... [returning June 9, 1897]”
Grinnell, Joseph The Islands of Santa Barbara, San Nicolas and San Clemente, in the Spring of 1897 Pasadena Academy of Sciences Publication No. 1, August, 1897 (26 pages).


ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN  
San Nicolas Island Blanche Trask MVZ 1901 MVZ-4236 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Eggs
San Nicolas Island C. B. Linton WFVZ April 15, 1909 WFVZ-97069 Pandion haliaetus Eggs


SANTA CATALINA ISLAND
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN  
Santa Catalina Island Harry Rhodes WFVZ April 27, 1896 WFVZ-58064 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Santa Catalina Island F. Stephens SDMNH March 26, 1893 SDNHM-350 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
Santa Catalina Island Frank Stephens WFVZ March 26, 1893 WFVZ-97059 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Santa Catalina Island Frank Stephens WFVZ March 26, 1893 WFVZ-97060 Pandion haliaetus Eggs


SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

1907 Santa Cruz Island: “Pandion carolinensis. American Osprey. I saw one osprey near the southern coast November 25.” [“At 11:30 p. m., November 19, 1907, my father (H. Linton), Mr. George Willett, and myself left San Pedro harbor in a dilapidated fishing smack and in company with a crawfisherman, one “Cold-foot” Jorgensen. We arrived off the south end of Santa Cruz Island at 10:30 the following day during a stiff norwester. For various reasons we were unable to make camp until the 22nd. It may not be amiss to state here that twice during the blow we were nearly wrecked: once while at anchor in Potatoe Harbor, a broken anchor allowing the boat to drift within the breaker line and nearly onto the rocks. In this instance the timely arrival of Willett and H. Linton in a small boat, saved the day, and incidentally the fishing smack. At another time (the engine having broken down) we were blown nearly onto the rocks of Anacapa Island; but with father at the wheel and Willett and I on the “sheet” we managed to hold her off. I mention the foregoing, and the many sleepless nights spent on the rocky shores, “running” the surf several times each day (with attendant duckings), etc., merely as a warning to those who seem inclined to believe a field naturalist’s life “strewn with roses”. (Its ’ generally strewn with cacti!)”]
Linton, C. B. Notes from Santa Cruz Island] The Condor 10(3):124-129, May 1908


ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN
Santa Cruz Island Institute for Wildlife Studies SBMNH May 5, 1888 SBMNH--10469 Pandion haliaetus Birds


ISLA CEDROS
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN
Isla Cedros collector unknown NMNH May 5, 1888 USNM-B23710 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla Cedros H. Ranger NMNH January 23, 1890 USNM-B23710 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla Cedros Wilmot W. Brown WFVZ May 1896 WFVZ-76474 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros Wilmot W. Brown MCZ March 30, 1906 MCZ-305558 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla Cedros Wilmot W. Brown MCZ April 5, 1906 MCZ-305557 Pandion haliaetus Birdls
Isla Cedros George Willett WFVZ April 17, 1912 WFVZ-110192 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros George Willett WFVZ April 17, 1912 WFVZ-110195 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros George Willett WFVZ April 17, 1912 WFVZ-110196 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros George Willett WFVZ April 17, 1912 WFVZ-211164 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros E. E. Sechrist WFVZ April 18, 1917 WFVZ-97062 Pandion haliaetus eggs
Isla Cedros Chester Lamb MVZ July 22, 1925 MVZ-47824 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla Cedros D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 7, 1930 WFVZ-3256 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 7, 1930 WFVZ-3257 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros D. S. DeGroot & J. R. Pemberton WFVZ April 7, 1930 WFVZ-3258 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros D. S. DeGroot & J. G. Tyler WFVZ April 7, 1930 WFVZ-107562 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros J. R. Pemberton WFVZ April 7, 1930 WFVZ-3259 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 7, 1930 WFVZ-59988 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 7, 1930 WFVZ-59989 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 7, 1930 WFVZ-59990 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros Lawrence Stevens SBMNH April 10, 1930 SBMNH-20768 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros Lawrence Stevens SBMNH April 10, 1930 SBMNH-20769 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros Lawrence Stevens SBMNH April 10, 1930 SBMNH-20770 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros Lawrence Stevens SBMNH April 12, 1930 SBMNH-20771 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros Lawrence Stevens SBMNH April 29, 1930 SBMNH-20772 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros Lawrence Stevens SBMNH April 29, 1930 SBMNH-20773 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Cedros Lawrence Stevens SBMNH May 4, 1930 SBMNH-20774 Pandion haliaetus Eggs


ISLA GUADALUPE
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN  
Isla Guadalupe G Dallas Hanna and Frank Tose CAS July 11, 1922 CAS-25548 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla Guadalupe no collector listed ANSP (presented) 1941 ANSP-150203 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla Guadalupe Victor B. Scheffer MVZ June 10, 1955 MVZ-133098 Pandion haliaetus Birds

“Late in the evening of July 11 [1922] an osprey was shot at the landing place; this species had not previously been reported from Guadalupe Island.” * G Dallas Hanna


ISLA NATIVIDAD
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN  
Isla Natividad A. W. Anthony WFVZ April 10, 1897 WFVZ-50274 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad A. W. Anthony WFVZ April 10, 1897 WFVZ-50276 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad A. W. Anthony WFVZ April 10, 1897 WFVZ-50278 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad A. W. Anthony WFVZ April 10, 1897 WFVZ-50284 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad A. W. Anthony WFVZ April 10, 1897 WFVZ-50286 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad E. W. Gifford CAS July 19, 1905 CAS-2909 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla Natividad W. W. Brown MCZ April 14, 1906 MCZ-358698 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla Natividad E. E. Sechrist WFVZ March 11, 1917 WFVZ-35212 Pandion haliaetus eggs
Isla Natividad C. C. Lamb UCLA January 2, 1925 UCLA-14779 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
Isla Natividad William Naylos WFVZ January 22, 1925 WFVZ-76851 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Eggs
Isla Natividad D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 6, 1930 WFVZ-59983 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 6, 1930 WFVZ-59984 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 6, 1930 WFVZ-59985 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 6, 1930 WFVZ-59986 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 6, 1930 WFVZ-59987 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 6, 1930 WFVZ-61860 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad J. R. Pemberton WFVZ April 6, 1930 WFVZ-2404 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad J. R. Pemberton WFVZ April 6, 1930 WFVZ-3255 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla Natividad E. N. Harrison WFVZ April 24, 1940 WFVZ-186494 Pandion haliaetus Eggs


ISLAS SAN BENITO
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN  
Islas San Benito A. W. Anthony WFVZ March 30, 1897 WFVZ-50280 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito A. W. Anthony WFVZ March 30, 1897 WFVZ-50283 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito A. W. Anthony WFVZ March 30, 1897 WFVZ-50285 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito Griffing Bancroft WFVZ February 19, 1930 WFVZ-8235 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito Griffing Bancroft WFVZ February 19, 1930 WFVZ-8236 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito Griffing Bancroft WFVZ February 19, 1930 WFVZ-211234 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito Griffing Bancroft WFVZ February 19, 1930 WFVZ-211249 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito Griffing Bancroft WFVZ February 20, 1930 WFVZ-8237 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito Griffing Bancroft WFVZ February 20, 1930 WFVZ-76857 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito Griffing Bancroft WFVZ February 20, 1930 WFVZ-211250 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito Griffing Bancroft WFVZ February 21, 1930 WFVZ-76854 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito Griffing Bancroft WFVZ February 21, 1930 WFVZ-76855 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito Griffing Bancroft WFVZ February 21, 1930 WFVZ-76856 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito Griffing Bancroft WFVZ February 21, 1930 WFVZ-211190 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito A. J. Van Rossem UCLA February 21, 1930 UCLA-29822 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
Islas San Benito D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 8, 1930 WFVZ-35213 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 8, 1930 WFVZ-59993 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 8, 1930 WFVZ-59994 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 8, 1930 WFVZ-59995 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito J. R. Pemberton WFVZ April 8, 1930 WFVZ-3260 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito J. R. Pemberton WFVZ April 8, 1930 WFVZ-3261 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito J. R. Pemberton WFVZ April 8, 1930 WFVZ-3262 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito J. R. Pemberton WFVZ February 2, 1932 WFVZ-3265 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Islas San Benito G. P. Ashcraft LACM February 25, 1941 LACM-50592 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
Islas San Benito B. K. Seavey SDNHM April 19, 1963 SDNHM-30586 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds


ISLA SAN MARTIN

1913 Isla San Martin: “Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. American Osprey. There are about thirty pairs breeding on this island. We counted thirty-five nests, one containing two partly grown young. ‘I’he birds used the other nests as “look-outs.” ” Wright, H. W.The Birds of San Martin Island, Lower California The Condor 15(6):207-210, November-December, 1913


ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN  
Isla San Martin Horace C. Poole WFVZ April 30, 1895 WFVZ-51613 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla San Martin A. W. Anthony WFVZ March 12, 1897 WFVZ-50279 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla San Martin A. W. Anthony WFVZ March 12, 1897 WFVZ-50279 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla San Martin A. W. Anthony WFVZ March 12, 1897 WFVZ-50281 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla San Martin A. W. Anthony WFVZ March 12, 1897 WFVZ-50282 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla San Martin A. W. Anthony WFVZ March 12, 1897 WFVZ-76288 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla San Martin A. W. Anthony PSM March 12, 1897 PSM-13116 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin E. W. Gifford CAS July 11, 1905 CAS-2905 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin E. W. Gifford CAS July 11, 1905 CAS-2910 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin E. W. Gifford CAS July 11, 1905 CAS-2911 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin J. S. Hunter CAS July 11, 1905 CAS-2904 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
Isla San Martin J. S. Hunter CAS July 11, 1905 CAS-2906 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
Isla San Martin W. J. McCloskey LACM April 9, 1912 LACM-175 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin W. J. McCloskey LACM April 9, 1912 LACM-176 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin W. J. McCloskey LACM April 9, 1912 LACM-177 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin George Willett LACM April 10, 1912 LACM-21052 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin George Willett LACM April 10, 1912 LACM-21053 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin George Willett LACM April 10, 1912 LACM-21054 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin George Willett WFVZ April 10, 1912 WFVZ-97070 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla San Martin W. C. Burgess WFVZ February 18, 1923 WFVZ-76848 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla San Martin Chester Lamb MVZ July 19, 1925 MVZ-47767 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin D. S. DeGroot WFVZ April 10, 1930 WFVZ-59996 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla San Martin L. G. Peyton WFVZ April 10, 1930 WFVZ-82276 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla San Martin E. N. Harrison WFVZ April 9, 1938 WFVZ-124 Pandion haliaetus Eggs
Isla San Martin B. Elam & A. S. Loukashkin CAS March 11, 1961 CAS-62738 Pandion haliaetus Birds
Isla San Martin B. Elam & A. S. Loukashkin CAS March 11, 1961 CAS-62739 Pandion haliaetus Birds


ISLA TODOS SANTOS
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN  
Isla Todos Santos P. I. Osburn MCZ March 31, 1910 MCZ-318480 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
Isla Todos Santos P. I. Osburn SDNHM April 2, 1910 SDNHM-11696 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Birds
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