“The 2026 season was the worst year ever recorded for breeding ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay, according to research released Monday by the Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary.

In 2026, a prime factor was food stress causing chicks to starve, researchers found. And the extreme food stress in recent years “appears to be caused by” changes to the availability of Atlantic menhaden, the report said.”

Click the link to read the most recent article.

“Researchers report catastrophic Osprey nesting failures along the Atlantic Coast, likely driven by declining menhaden, raising alarms about ecosystem health and broader conservation challenges today.”

“The spectacle of starving Osprey chicks is not for the faint of heart. Ben Wurst, Senior Wildlife Biologist for the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, monitors nests on Barnegat Bay, in Ocean County, which has around 150 nesting pairs of Ospreys.” Click the link below to read what Ben reports.

“To help reduce the number of starving ospreys, we need to ensure the fish are there for them to eat. These data should spark strong action from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission on menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay... The Bay and its osprey can’t wait any longer. The commission must act if we have any chance at reversing these dire ecological warning signs.”

“It’s time for the ASMFC to cut the Bay’s industrial menhaden harvest in half, spread out fishing pressure better throughout the season, and protect menhaden for future generations.”

Beach Clean-Up: One way to help Ospreys is to collect marine debris prior to their arrival in late March, and throughout the year. While there are many organized beach clean-ups on the North Fork, there is no shortage of shoreline to walk and collect debris. Items to focus on are balloon strings, fishing line, twine, and marine rope. Unfortunately, Ospreys bring these items to their nests and they may potentially experience an entanglement with the line, leading to fatal injuries.

It Takes a Village: There are many organizations that have been integral to the success of Osprey Conservation. From PSEGLI installing nesting platforms above dangerous electrical wires to Peconic Bay Keeper’s Alewife Project, partnerships are integral to threatened and endangered species recovery efforts.

‍If you are interested in becoming a volunteer to help build and install nesting platforms, please fill out this form:

Each March we celebrate the Return of the Osprey. During this event, participants discover Osprey’s conservation success story, help with a beach clean up, install an osprey platform, and meet other organizations that help support the Osprey population.