by Pierce Rafferty, HLFM Director
The male osprey “Edwin,” tagged with a cell tower transmitter last spring on Fishers Island, recently reappeared in Venezuela after “going dark” for several months over the winter while out of cell tower range. He had last been tracked on September 29, 2013, in northern Venezuela after his long migration south from Connecticut. Back data received by the Museum from these new transmissions reveal that Edwin spent much of the winter in the upper reaches of the Amazon River in Brazil before passing back through Venezuela on March 8 and 9, 2014, at the start of his northern migration. Edwin reached the Dominican Republic on March 10th and subsequently traveled through Haiti and Cuba. He crossed over to the southern tip of Florida on March 16th, reaching the Orlando area in central Florida the following day. To follow Edwin’s on-going migration, please visit the “Track Edwin” tab.
Those who monitored Edwin’s travels last summer will remember that he quickly became a Connecticut-centric bird who spent little time on Fishers Island. It will be interesting to see if he heads back to our shores to reestablish a nest at his former Middle Farms Flats/Beach Pond site, or if he finds a mainland site more to his liking.
The Museum would like to thank the Spofford Foundation for funding this fantastic project and for pledging funds to tag another male osprey this spring.
