The first osprey of spring was spotted on March 27 at the platform along the Indian River in Milford. Photo by Tim Chaucer.
As the swallows return to Capistrano each spring so do the ospreys return to the platform and perch in Milford.
Members of the Milford Marine Institute spotted a solitary osprey on Monday, March 27 on the perch at the platform on along the Indian River, commonly referred to as Gulf Pond. The bird was most likely the male.
The institute spotted a female on the nesting platform and the male with a brown necklace on the perch. Soon the male joined the female on the platform.
“The Milford Marine Institute chose the osprey as our logo back in 1983 because the osprey, or fishhawk as it is sometimes called, best illustrates the connection between the avian or bird world and the marine world,” said Director Tim Chaucer.
Osprey populations plummeted in the state during the middle of the 20th century because of the widespread use of DDT, reaching a low point in 1974 of only nine active nests, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Their populations have steadily rebounded in the last few decades.
Ospreys first appeared on the platforms installed by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, forerunner of the DEEP, in 1989. The birds were scared off by the cannon booms from the 350th anniversary mock naval encounter of the HMS Rose and USS Providence. Nevertheless, the ospreys returned in 1990 and have nested successfully ever since then, raising dozens of chicks. Presumably 2023 will be no exception.
The Milford Marine Institute is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with two marine biology science/art camps in late June and one bird ID art camp and two archaeology/native culture camps in July. The campps are run in conjunction with the Milford Recreation Department. Visit milfordmarineinstitute.org or the Recreation Department website for more information.