Bird Watching: Raising Aussie Osprey #6, 1 by MargaretK

MargaretK wrote:
Well, I spoke to the lovely wife of the man who did the banding and provided her with the last two numbers, which are 19. Mum Osprey was banded whilst a chick in the nest on Garden Island, on November 21st 1990, making her eighteen years old. The band has nothing to do with her blind eye.

She'll see if she can find anything more about her. I've also been in contact with the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme in Canberra and they will do likewise.

Garden Island is a few kilometres off the coast just south of Fremantle and apart from a naval base which occupies about 30% of the island, it is in pristine condition. It is linked to the mainland by a causeway which is restricted to navy traffic only. The remaining 70% of the island is accessible to the public by private boat and takes about 15 minutes to get there from the mainland. It is closed to the public at night. As well as ? four families of Osprey, it's home to Tamar Wallabies, Carpet Pythons and Tiger snakes, the latter being among the deadliest in the world, but luckily very wary of humans and will slither off into the bush at the first sound (or vibration) of humans. Only the unfortunate get bit. I've never been there, but may organize DH to take me on a day trip there.

The picture is of the magic numbers.