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Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

The Osprey is a large, fish-eating raptor found mainly around Australia's coast, estuaries, wetlands and offshore islands. On works sites, nests, nearby water, roosts and open-water foraging areas need careful checking because the species is protected as a migratory species under the EPBC Act, although it is not listed as threatened in Australia.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed migratory. Listed under the Bonn Convention. Listed migratory species are a matter of national environmental significance, so a significant impact needs referral.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Special least concern. A least concern bird covered by an international migratory bird agreement. Tampering with its breeding place needs a high risk species management program.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Specially protected (migratory).

Migration and breeding season

Ospreys are listed as migratory under the EPBC Act, but Australian adults are mostly resident around breeding territories. Breeding timing varies by region, broadly spanning April to November, with winter breeding most clearly documented in eastern and southern Australia.

Breeding mode: Pairs usually mate for life and often return to the same nest over successive breeding seasons.

Clutch size: Usually 2 to 3 eggs.

Incubation: About 33 to 38 days, or approximately 5 weeks.

Fledging: Young leave the nest about 55 to 60 days after hatching, or about 8 weeks. Parents may continue feeding them for several weeks to 2 to 3 months.

Age at maturity: About 3 years.

Nest sites: Large stick nests occur in dead or living trees, on cliffs, rocky headlands, islands, towers, poles, channel markers, jetties and artificial platforms. Nests are usually close to water.

Breeding frequency: Some pairs breed annually. Other pairs breed every 2 to 3 years.

Timing varies between regions and years, so active nests, recently fledged young and regularly used nest trees should be checked before clearing or construction, even outside the broad seasonal window.

  • Breeding in Australia: Breeding broadly occurs from April to November, with a winter peak and regional variation.
  • Eggs, nestlings and dependent young: Dependent young may be present from about May to January, depending on when laying occurred.
  • Resident presence and seasonal dispersal in Australia: Adults are mostly resident, while young birds can disperse widely and range extensions are reported in autumn and winter.
  • Foraging and nest-site use: Ospreys may forage, perch and roost around coastal waters, estuaries, rivers, lakes and other open water in every month.
  • Highest clearing risk: The highest risk is during the breeding period, especially when eggs, nestlings or dependent fledglings are present.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Osprey is a distinctive fish-eating raptor. It is smaller and more lightly built than a White-bellied Sea-eagle, with long bowed wings and a short, square tail.

Adults have a white head and underparts, a dark brown back, and a dark stripe through the eye and down the side of the neck. Females often have heavier brown markings across the chest and collar.

In flight, the wings are long and arched, with a noticeable bend at the wrist. The tail is short and square.

  • Body length: 50 to 65 cm
  • Wingspan: up to 1.7 m
  • Average weight: about 1.25 kg
  • Juveniles are more mottled and have heavier chest markings

Identification: Calls and similar species

Calls are infrequent outside displays and nest activity. A bird calling repeatedly near a nest, or adults making aerial displays above a nest site, may indicate a breeding territory.

The White-bellied Sea-eagle is the main large coastal raptor likely to be confused with an Osprey. The Osprey is smaller, has a white head with a dark eye stripe, and shows a characteristic bowed-wing flight.

Identification: Field signs

The clearest field sign is a very large stick nest. Nests may be lined with grass or seaweed and can accumulate material over many years.

Look for adults carrying sticks, seaweed or fish, repeated flights to one structure, fish remains at a perch, and fledglings returning to a nest after leaving it.

  • Large stick platform in a dead tree, living tree, cliff, tower, pole, marker or artificial platform
  • Whitewash and prey remains below a regularly used nest or perch
  • Adults carrying fish to a nest or feeding perch
  • Juveniles perched near the nest after fledging

Distribution: Australian range

Ospreys occur around much of Australia's coastline and on offshore islands. They are mapped in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

The species is most common in coastal and estuarine areas. Its breeding range extends around the northern Australian coast and includes many offshore islands, from Western Australia through northern Australia to the New South Wales coast.

A separate breeding population occurs along the South Australian coast and on offshore islands. Ospreys are less common in Victoria and southern New South Wales, but may occur there as non-breeding visitors.

  • Western Australia, including the Kimberley, Pilbara, North West Cape, Ningaloo and the southern coast
  • Northern Territory coastal areas and islands
  • Queensland coastal strip, estuaries, islands and large river inlets
  • New South Wales coastal areas and some larger rivers
  • South Australian coast, Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, the Far West and Kangaroo Island
  • Victoria, mainly as a less common coastal occurrence

Distribution: Sites and landscape connections

Ospreys may travel inland along major rivers, particularly in northern Australia and parts of the Murray-Darling Basin. Inland records are more likely where waterways hold suitable fish populations.

A site may be used even when the nest is outside the development footprint. Birds can cross cleared land or fly over a project area between a nest, roost and feeding water.

  • Coastal lagoons and river mouths
  • Estuaries and mangrove-lined waterways
  • Offshore islands and coastal rock stacks
  • Large rivers, reservoirs, lakes and waterholes

Distribution: Overseas range

The Australian form occurs from Indonesia, the Philippines, Palau, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands through northern Australia to New Caledonia. A northern-hemisphere Osprey has also been recorded as a vagrant on the Cocos Keeling Islands.

Habitat: Habitat to check

Ospreys need open water with a reliable fish supply and a secure elevated place for nesting or perching. On a project site, assess the waterway, shoreline, nearby trees and artificial structures together rather than treating the nest tree in isolation.

Look around estuaries, river mouths, bays, beaches, mangroves, coastal cliffs, reefs, lagoons, lakes, reservoirs and broad rivers. Suitable habitat can include fresh, brackish or saline water.

The best habitat usually combines open water, clear flight paths and a nest or perch close enough for regular access.

  • Open, clear water with fish close to the surface
  • Coastal headlands, rock stacks and exposed shoreline trees
  • Tall dead trees or large trees near water
  • Mangrove edges, riparian woodland and scattered mature trees
  • Jetties, channel markers, towers, poles, cranes and other tall structures

Habitat: Landscape features

In South Australia, nests are often on coastal promontories and rock stacks because suitable coastal forest is limited. In eastern and northern Australia, tall trees near water are commonly used.

Nest sites are generally close to water and are often within sight of the feeding area. A Queensland nest platform manual identifies nest sites generally within 3 km of water, although local conditions vary.

  • Elevated locations with an unobstructed view of water
  • Exposed dead trees, broken trunks and dead canopies
  • Stable cliffs, rocky foreshores and headlands
  • Artificial structures that provide a strong, elevated platform

Foraging habitat: Foraging areas

Ospreys mainly hunt fish in open water. They may forage from a perch or by patrolling and hovering above the water before plunging feet first.

Prioritise open, clear water when assessing potential foraging habitat. Suitable areas include estuaries, coastal lagoons, bays, reefs, rivers, reservoirs, large lakes and waterholes.

Marsh and mudflat can also contribute to habitat around estuaries, particularly where they are connected to broader waterways and support fish or other aquatic prey.

  • Estuarine channels and tidal creeks
  • Quiet bays, lagoons and inshore waters
  • River pools and broad reaches
  • Reservoirs, lakes and permanent waterholes
  • Water beside mangroves, mudflats and coastal wetlands

Foraging habitat: Hunting behaviour

The Osprey usually hunts during daylight. It searches from the wing or from a perch, then dives directly into the water and takes prey near the surface.

Fish are normally carried to a nearby perch or nest before being eaten. An active feeding perch may be marked by fish scales, bones, droppings or repeated adult flights.

Main prey: Fish, commonly up to about 2 kg

Other prey: Occasionally crustaceans, sea snakes, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals

  • Soaring, circling or hovering above water
  • Plunging feet first into the water
  • Carrying fish head first
  • Returning to a nest, dead tree, tower, jetty or other perch

Foraging habitat: Site assessment

Map the connection between any nest and nearby open water. Retain flight paths and assess whether clearing, cranes, temporary lighting, noise or machinery would disrupt regular access to the feeding area.

  • Search water edges and elevated perches for fish remains and whitewash
  • Watch for repeated flights between a nest and water
  • Check nearby structures, including poles, jetties, markers and towers
  • Record whether the site provides clear water views and unobstructed approach routes

Breeding habitat: Nest sites

Ospreys often return to the same nest for many years. A nest may remain active even when adults are not present during a short inspection, so the surrounding trees, structures and flight routes should also be checked.

Nests are large platforms made from sticks and may be lined with grass or seaweed. They may occur in tall dead trees, the fork or dead canopy of a living tree, on cliffs and rocky headlands, or on artificial structures.

Artificial nest sites include communications towers, power poles, channel markers, jetties, cranes, lighthouses and purpose-built platforms.

  • Tall dead trees near rivers, lakes, estuaries or the ocean
  • Large living trees with a strong fork or dead canopy
  • Coastal cliffs, rock stacks and headlands
  • Towers, poles, markers and other elevated structures

Breeding habitat: Breeding period

Breeding timing varies across Australia. In South East Queensland, nesting can occur from April to November, with the main breeding period commonly described as June to September. In the North West Cape region, breeding occurs in the austral autumn and winter, and nesting has been recorded from June to October in north-eastern New South Wales guidance.

Typical clutch: 2 to 3 eggs

Incubation: About 33 to 38 days

Nestling period: About 55 to 60 days in Queensland guidance, and 71 to 76 days in national species information

  • Adults carrying sticks or lining material
  • Courtship flights and aerial displays above the nest
  • Adults carrying fish to the nest
  • Chicks or fledglings visible on or near the nest

Breeding habitat: Checks before clearing

Inspect all mature and dead trees near water, not just trees within the clearing footprint. Check towers, poles, markers and other structures where an alternative nest may have been built.

Inspect from at least two angles where possible. A nest can be obscured by foliage, viewed end on, or mistaken for a pile of dead branches.

  • Record the nest location, height, structure and condition
  • Check for eggs, chicks, adults, fresh material and prey remains
  • Map the nearest open water and likely flight path
  • Arrange ecological advice before disturbing an active or recently used nest

Breeding habitat: Breeding places and buffers

A 50 m buffer around an Osprey nest tree is a useful minimum starting point for avoiding direct disturbance and damage. The buffer may need to be increased where construction noise, cranes, lighting, vibration or repeated traffic could affect the nest.

In Queensland, the Osprey is a special least concern animal because it is a least concern bird covered by the Bonn Convention. Tampering with its breeding place requires a high risk species management plan.

General nest buffer: Use at least 50 m as a starting point, then obtain project-specific ecological advice

Queensland requirement: Tampering with a breeding place requires a high risk species management plan

Sheltering habitat: Roost and perch features

Ospreys use nests, dead trees, towers, poles, jetties and other elevated structures for resting, feeding and watching for fish. Young birds may continue to use the nest after fledging.

Look for high, exposed perches with a clear view over water. Useful sites include dead trees, living trees with open crowns, cliffs, rock stacks, jetties, channel markers, towers, cranes and power poles.

A perch may be used even when there is no nest nearby. Repeated use can be indicated by whitewash, fish remains, feathers and regular flights to the same structure.

  • Dead branches above or beside open water
  • Tall trees along estuary margins and riverbanks
  • Rocky headlands and coastal stacks
  • Artificial structures with stable elevated platforms

Sheltering habitat: Young birds

Fledglings may return to the nest to roost for about a week after leaving it. They may then continue using the nest as a feeding platform for several weeks while learning to fish.

During this period, young birds may be less capable of avoiding machinery, vehicles and people. Keep observers alert for repeated short flights, begging calls and adults carrying fish to a recently fledged bird.

Post-fledging nest use: About one week for roosting, followed by several weeks of use as a feeding platform

Parental feeding: Parents may continue providing food for 2 to 3 months after fledging

Sheltering habitat: Lighting and night activity

Ospreys are mainly active during the day, but night hunting and nocturnal flights have been observed. Artificial light can alter flight behaviour or disorient birds using dark skies and celestial cues.

Keep temporary and permanent lighting directed away from nests, roosts, flight paths and open water. Avoid unnecessary upward light spill.

  • Use the lowest practical light level
  • Shield lights and direct them towards the work area
  • Avoid lighting nests, roost trees and water surfaces
  • Check lighting effects during construction and operations

Migration and seasonal presence: Seasonal presence in Australia

The Osprey is listed as a migratory species under the EPBC Act through the Bonn Convention. Adults in Australia are mostly resident or sedentary, so the legal migratory listing does not mean that every bird makes a predictable annual migration.

There are no fixed arrival and departure months for the main Australian population. Many adults remain near breeding territories throughout the year, although they may forage more widely outside the breeding season.

The species breeds in Australia mainly during autumn and winter, with local breeding periods extending into spring. In South East Queensland, breeding may occur from April to November, with June to September a common nesting period.

  • Austral autumn and winter: breeding activity is common in many regions
  • Spring: nesting, fledging and post-fledging dependence may continue in some regions
  • Non-breeding season: adults may range more widely but can still visit breeding territories

Migration and seasonal presence: Dispersal and passage

Young birds can disperse widely from their natal territories, and some may travel more than 700 km. Birds may move inland along rivers and into areas with temporary fish abundance.

Range extensions have been recorded in north-western Western Australia and north-eastern Queensland during autumn, and inland north-western Queensland during winter. Single birds have been recorded in central Australia from May to December in wetter years.

  • Autumn movements into some north-western and north-eastern areas
  • Winter movements inland in parts of Queensland
  • May to December records in central Australia during suitable wet conditions
  • Dispersal by young birds along rivers and between coastal areas

Migration and seasonal presence: Important habitat under the EPBC Act

For project assessment, important habitat is not limited to the nest tree. It can include a breeding site, nearby open water used for feeding, regular roosts and perches, and connected flight paths used between these areas.

Habitat is more likely to be important where it supports a breeding pair, contains a traditional nest, provides several nearby foraging areas, or offers secure nesting with limited disturbance.

  • Occupied or regularly used breeding territories
  • Traditional nest sites and nearby trees or structures
  • Open fresh, brackish or saline water with suitable fish
  • Secure roosts and feeding perches connected to the nest
  • Coastal, estuarine or wetland habitat that supports several functions

Migration and seasonal presence: Project obligations

An action likely to have a significant impact on a listed migratory species may need referral under the EPBC Act. Assess direct clearing, nest disturbance, changed lighting, noise, vibration, loss of water-edge habitat and disruption of regular flight paths.

  • Confirm whether the species or an active nest occurs in or near the action area
  • Map breeding, roosting and foraging habitat together
  • Seek advice before disturbing a nest or breeding place
  • Document avoidance, lighting controls and monitoring measures

Threats: Nest disturbance and clearing

Most development risks can be reduced by retaining nests, mature trees, water-edge habitat and clear flight paths. Work planning should consider both the active breeding season and the possibility of repeated use of a nest in later years.

Close disturbance can cause adults to abandon a nest, eggs or young. Removing a nest tree, adjoining vegetation or a regular feeding perch can affect breeding over several seasons because pairs often return to the same site.

Do not clear, dismantle or modify a nest, nest tree or supporting structure without the required approvals and species management advice.

  • Retain occupied and recently used nest trees
  • Use a minimum 50 m nest buffer as a starting point
  • Keep machinery, cranes and repeated traffic away from the nest
  • Schedule high-disturbance work outside the local breeding period where practicable

Threats: Loss of water and foraging habitat

Removing marsh, mudflat, mangroves, riparian woodland or open-water edges can reduce feeding opportunities. Runoff, sediment, poor water quality and changes to waterways may also reduce fish availability.

Assess the broader waterway connection, not only the area being cleared. A small cleared area may still affect access to a nest or perch.

  • Protect water quality and prevent sediment entering waterways
  • Retain riparian vegetation and mature trees where possible
  • Maintain access between nest sites, perches and feeding water
  • Avoid unnecessary changes to tidal channels, pools and shoreline structure

Threats: Lighting, noise and construction activity

Temporary lighting, noise, vibration, dust and increased human activity can reduce use of nearby habitat. Artificial light may affect nocturnal flights and can make a nest, roost or feeding area less suitable.

Include Osprey checks in pre-start inspections, particularly where a project is close to a waterway or a known nest.

  • Shield lights and avoid upward or water-facing light spill
  • Keep noisy work and vibration away from active nests
  • Use exclusion zones around nests, roosts and regular perches
  • Monitor bird behaviour during construction and operations

Threats: Structures, power and fishing hazards

Ospreys may nest on power poles, towers and other infrastructure. These sites can create electrocution, equipment failure and nest-collapse risks. Fishing line, hooks and plastic can also become incorporated into nests or injure birds.

Where a nest on infrastructure creates a safety problem, use a qualified wildlife manager and an approved nest platform or other mitigation rather than removing the nest without a plan.

  • Inspect poles and towers for nests before maintenance
  • Use safe designs or insulation where nesting near power infrastructure is likely
  • Keep fishing line, hooks and plastic out of waterways and work areas
  • Manage oversized nests and unstable platforms with specialist advice

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Survey Ospreys around open water, nest structures and regular flight paths. Adults are mostly resident or semi-nomadic, so local birds may be present throughout the year. Young birds and some non-breeding visitors can move more widely, especially in autumn and winter.

Map rivers, estuaries, lakes, reservoirs, mangroves, reefs, coastal cliffs, islands and other open water within and around the site.

Search for records of nests, traditional nest trees, artificial nest platforms, roosts, feeding perches and flight paths. Check structures such as towers, poles, jetties, channel markers, cranes and beacons.

Treat nesting sites with nearby open fresh, brackish or saline water as potentially important habitat. Include habitat used for nesting, foraging, perching and roosting in the assessment.

Breeding range: Around much of the Australian mainland coast and offshore islands, with an isolated South Australian breeding population.

Seasonal pattern: Adults are mostly resident or sedentary. Range extensions and dispersal can occur in autumn and winter.

  • Review previous ecological reports and local records before planning clearing or construction.
  • Map potential breeding places and all water bodies that could support fishing.
  • Consider wider habitat connections along estuaries, rivers and coastal wetlands, rather than assessing the work footprint alone.

Survey methodology: 2. Field detection

Inspect the site from points with clear views across open water and above likely nest trees or structures. Look for the distinctive bowed wings, short square tail, white head and dark eye stripe.

Search for large stick nests in tall dead trees, broken trunks, dead canopies, cliffs, rocky headlands and artificial structures. A nest can be very large and may be used in successive breeding seasons.

Check nearby perches, feeding platforms and roosts for fish remains, whitewash, feathers and repeated use.

Typical nest setting: Close to water, often within sight of water. Nest sites can occur from the coast to larger inland rivers and wetlands.

Foraging territory: In south-east Queensland, breeding and feeding territories generally include 5 to 20 km of coastline.

  • Survey during daylight, when Ospreys commonly forage. Early morning and late afternoon can also help identify perches and regular flight paths.
  • Inspect trees from at least two angles so that a large stick nest is not hidden by the canopy.
  • Use binoculars or a telescope where available. Do not approach a nest closely just to confirm occupancy.
  • Record birds flying over the site, birds carrying fish, courtship flights, nest building, incubation behaviour, fledglings and adults defending a nest.

Survey methodology: 3. Timing and survey effort

Plan at least one survey during the local breeding period where a nest or suitable breeding place may be affected. Breeding periods vary across Australia, including April to November in south-east Queensland, June to September in Queensland guidance, June to October in north-east New South Wales, and austral autumn to winter in the North West Cape region.

Repeat surveys when access, weather or vegetation limits visibility. Surveys are less useful during heavy rain, strong winds, poor light or conditions that prevent a clear view of nests and open water.

Allow additional observations in autumn and winter where the project could affect moving birds, young dispersers or non-breeding visitors.

Breeding evidence: An active nest may contain eggs, young, recently fledged birds, fresh nest material or adults regularly attending the nest.

  • Use repeated daytime visits when a nest is suspected but occupancy is uncertain.
  • Record the date, start and finish time, weather, tide or water conditions where relevant, observers, viewing points and survey duration.
  • Document all nest activity, including adults entering or leaving, nest material being carried, feeding, alarm behaviour and fledglings near the nest.
  • Use a digital camera and fisheye lens technique for artificial-light assessment where lighting could affect roosting, nesting or foraging behaviour.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey records and mapping

Map the nest, water edge, likely feeding area, flight paths, perches, roosts and proposed disturbance footprint. Record the distance between each feature and the work area.

Photograph nests and habitat from a safe distance. Keep a clear record of whether the photograph shows an occupied nest, an old nest or uncertain activity.

  • Record coordinates, datum or mapping system, habitat type, structure type and condition.
  • Record the number and age class of birds where possible, including adults, juveniles and fledglings.
  • Record fish-carrying flights, plunge dives, feeding perches, repeated roost use and any interaction with powerlines or machinery.
  • Share records promptly with the project ecologist and relevant approval holders.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Avoid nests, important feeding areas and regular roosts wherever practicable. Confirm approval requirements before works start, and brief every worker on the stop-work process.

Screen the action under the EPBC Act because the Osprey is a listed migratory species. Refer the action if it is likely to have a significant impact on the species or its important habitat.

In Queensland, treat the Osprey as a special least concern animal where the relevant migratory conventions apply. Obtain a high risk Species Management Program before tampering with a breeding place.

Check state and local requirements before clearing or disturbing a nest, nest tree, artificial nest or other breeding place. Obtain any required wildlife, threatened species, clearing or animal handling authorities.

Australian status: Least concern in Australia, and listed as migratory under the EPBC Act.

  • Have the project ecologist document the EPBC Act screening and referral decision.
  • Confirm that the fauna spotter catcher holds the authority required for the work and for handling native wildlife.
  • Do not rely on a general clearing approval where a specific breeding-place or migratory-species condition applies.
  • Keep approval documents, maps, conditions and contact details at the work front.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and timing

Retain active nests, traditional nest trees, adjoining vegetation, feeding perches and access to open water. Avoid work that blocks regular flight paths or removes a substantial part of a local feeding area.

Schedule noisy or high-disturbance work outside the local breeding period where practicable. In coastal Queensland and New South Wales, assume breeding activity may occur from autumn through spring unless surveys show otherwise.

Do not assume that a non-breeding month is free of risk. Adults can remain near breeding territories, and young birds can disperse widely.

Nest protection guidance: A 50 m buffer around the nest tree assists with protection from disturbance and damage.

  • Use the largest practicable exclusion area around a nest and its supporting vegetation. A 50 m buffer around an Osprey nest tree is a useful minimum starting point where site conditions allow.
  • Increase the buffer if birds show alarm, repeated flushing, nest defence or reduced feeding.
  • Retain open water, shoreline access and unobstructed fishing areas.
  • Avoid night lighting near nests, roosts and feeding areas.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance inspection

Complete a pre-clearance inspection shortly before works begin, even if earlier surveys found no Ospreys. Inspect all trees, towers, poles, platforms, cliffs, jetties and other structures that could hold a large stick nest.

Check the wider work area for birds using perches, roosts, mudflats, marshes, riparian woodland and other feeding habitat. Confirm that mapped buffers remain free of equipment, materials and access tracks.

  • Inspect from two angles and use binoculars or a telescope.
  • Check for eggs, chicks, fledglings, adults attending the nest, fresh stick placement and regular nest use.
  • Mark exclusion zones clearly on plans and on the ground without placing markers close enough to disturb the nest.
  • Record the inspection date, observers, findings, photographs and clearance decision.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induction and controls

Give all workers a short fauna induction before entering the site. Explain how to identify an Osprey, where exclusions apply and who can stop work.

Nominate the fauna spotter catcher or project ecologist as the decision maker for wildlife risks. Make the stop-work authority clear to supervisors and plant operators.

  • Use maps showing nests, buffers, water edges, access routes and no-go areas.
  • Brief workers not to approach, feed, chase, photograph closely or handle an Osprey.
  • Control dogs, vehicles, lighting, drones and unnecessary people near breeding places.
  • Keep emergency contacts and wildlife rehabilitation contacts available at the site office and work front.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing and supervision

Clear in stages and keep a trained spotter catcher present where wildlife could be affected. Stop work whenever an Osprey, active breeding place or unexpected roost is at risk.

Clear from the least sensitive area towards retained habitat so birds have an unobstructed escape route. Keep exclusion zones, water access and known flight paths clear.

Use the spotter catcher to inspect each tree, structure and work area before disturbance. Maintain active supervision during felling, demolition, crane work and high-noise activities.

  • Remove machinery, materials and workers from the exclusion area before restarting work.
  • Work in short stages and reassess after each stage.
  • Pause work during poor visibility, strong winds or conditions that prevent safe wildlife detection.
  • Keep a daily fauna log, including start and finish times, weather, personnel, areas cleared and wildlife observations.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop-work response

Stop work immediately if an Osprey enters the exclusion area, shows repeated alarm, is struck or injured, or if a nest or breeding place is found.

Stop work if a previously unrecorded nest, fledgling, colony or regular roost is identified. Ospreys do not normally form colonies, but several birds may use nearby nests, perches or feeding areas.

  • Move people and plant away quietly. Do not chase the bird or attempt to flush it.
  • Protect the area with a temporary exclusion zone and notify the project ecologist and site supervisor.
  • Assess whether the nest contains eggs or young, whether adults are attending, and whether the work could affect access to food or water.
  • Obtain ecological and regulatory advice before altering, removing, relocating or interfering with a breeding place.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling and relocation

Only an authorised and suitably experienced person may capture or handle an Osprey. Do not handle an adult, chick or fledgling unless the person has the required authority and the action is necessary for welfare or approved management.

Keep handling brief and quiet. Minimise visual, noise and physical stress, and use suitable equipment for a large raptor.

  • Do not relocate an Osprey simply because it is near machinery or a work area. First stop the activity and allow the bird to leave where safe.
  • If a fledgling is on the ground, keep people and dogs away and seek advice before moving it. A parent may be nearby.
  • Record the reason for handling, the person responsible, permits, condition of the bird, destination and release outcome.
  • Do not move a nest or eggs unless this is covered by the relevant approval and directed by a qualified wildlife professional.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured or dead animals

Treat an injured Osprey as a wildlife emergency. Stop nearby work, reduce noise and keep people clear.

Contact the project ecologist, authorised wildlife carer, veterinarian or relevant state wildlife authority. An Osprey with powerline, fishing-line, vehicle or machinery injuries needs specialist care.

  • Do not offer food or water.
  • Do not remove fishing line, hooks or other material unless directed by a veterinarian or authorised wildlife professional.
  • If safe and authorised, contain the bird in a ventilated, secure container with minimal handling.
  • Record the location, time, apparent cause, photographs where safe, people notified and final outcome.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Confirm that work has not affected nests, birds, feeding areas or retained habitat. Use the results to adjust controls before the next work stage and during operations.

Inspect the cleared area and adjoining buffers after each work stage. Check for injured birds, displaced fledglings, damaged nests, fallen nest trees, new roost use and blocked access to water.

Check retained trees and structures for vibration damage, unstable branches, loose nest material and changes in the birds' use of the area.

  • Complete checks before plant leaves the work area and again after major weather events.
  • Confirm that waste, fishing line, plastic, hooks and other hazards have been removed.
  • Check that temporary lighting is not shining into nests, roosts or open-water feeding areas.
  • Photograph and map any change in habitat or nest condition.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Monitoring and reporting

Monitor known nests and nearby habitat during construction and operations where the project could affect breeding, foraging, roosting or flight behaviour. Use repeat daytime observations and maintain consistent observation points where practicable.

For projects with artificial lighting, continue light monitoring through the operational phase. An annual audit before each austral summer season is a suitable starting point where this is required by project commitments.

  • Record presence, number and age class of birds, nest attendance, feeding, alarm behaviour, fledging and use of perches or roosts.
  • Record noise, lighting, machinery, traffic and other activities occurring during each observation.
  • Report breaches, injuries, nest damage, unexpected breeding activity and significant behaviour changes to the project manager and approval holder.
  • Submit required reports to the relevant regulator and maintain records for the life of the project.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Relocated or affected animals

Recheck any animal released after authorised handling. Confirm that it is alert, mobile and able to leave the release site.

Where a fledgling or adult has been moved under an approved procedure, confirm the destination, release time, follow-up observations and advice from the wildlife professional.

  • Do not repeatedly approach or monitor a released bird at close range.
  • Record any repeat rescue, failure to return, abnormal behaviour or evidence of parent contact.
  • Review whether the original work activity, lighting or exclusion arrangement needs to change.
  • Escalate persistent problems to the project ecologist and wildlife authority.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review every Osprey incident, including near misses, nest disturbance, lighting concerns and unplanned work inside a buffer. Keep the review factual and focused on preventing recurrence.

  • Identify the activity, location, time, weather, people involved and control that failed.
  • Update maps, inductions, method statements and exclusion zones.
  • Retrain crews before work resumes where a procedure was not followed.
  • Share lessons with supervisors, fauna spotter catchers and the project ecologist.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore habitat and water access

Restore habitat that supports fishing, nesting, perching and roosting. Ospreys use both natural and artificial nest sites, but replacement structures should only be installed where they are safe, suitable and supported by local ecological advice.

Retain or re-establish open water, wetland edges, riparian vegetation, mangroves and coastal vegetation around rivers, estuaries, lakes and reservoirs.

Restore clear views across water for hunting while retaining suitable perches and secure nest trees. Protect shoreline access from unnecessary fencing, lighting and frequent disturbance.

  • Use local native species suited to the soil, salinity, flooding and coastal exposure of the site.
  • Stabilise disturbed banks and control erosion without filling feeding shallows or mudflats unnecessarily.
  • Remove rubbish, fishing line, hooks and plastic from waterways and nest areas.
  • Maintain connected habitat to larger river, estuary and wetland systems.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Artificial nest sites

Consider an artificial nest platform where a traditional nest tree has been lost, a safe natural site is unavailable, or an existing nest location creates a documented safety risk. Obtain advice from an experienced raptor ecologist before installation.

Site the platform close to suitable open water, with a clear approach, safe supporting structure and low disturbance. Ospreys have used platforms on poles, towers and other structures.

Nest location: Nest sites are generally close to water and often within sight of water. Guidance for platforms recommends 50 m from a water body where practicable, with a maximum distance of 3 km.

  • Assess powerlines, wind exposure, corrosion, public access, fire risk and structural loading before installation.
  • Keep the platform away from areas of regular machinery, intense lighting and heavy public activity.
  • Use robust materials and allow for the large size and continued growth of an Osprey nest.
  • Inspect the platform before breeding activity and after severe weather.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Lighting, weeds and site hazards

Design lighting to protect dark skies around nests, roosts, feeding areas and flight paths. Artificial light can affect marine raptors during nocturnal flights and may cause disorientation where birds rely on celestial cues.

Control weeds and remove hazards that can become incorporated into nests or entangle birds.

  • Use the lowest practical light level and direct light downwards and away from water and nest structures.
  • Avoid unnecessary lighting during construction and use timers, shielding and motion control where suitable.
  • Inspect nests and nearby vegetation for fishing line, wire, plastic bags and other hazardous material, but do not approach an active nest without ecological direction.
  • Prevent new weed infestations through clean machinery, soil hygiene and follow-up treatment.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Monitor restored habitat and any artificial nest structure over several breeding seasons. Ospreys may return to traditional sites and may take time to adopt a replacement structure.

Use consistent observation points and record nest use, breeding outcome, fledgling survival, feeding activity, roost use and responses to nearby operations.

Nest reuse: Pairs may return to the same nest site for successive years, and nests can become very large as material is added.

  • Inspect platforms and retained nest trees before the breeding season and after major storms.
  • Track changes in open-water access, shoreline condition, lighting and human disturbance.
  • Compare results with the pre-construction baseline and adjust restoration or operational controls when use declines.
  • Keep the monitoring program in place for the operating life where the project has long-term lighting or habitat effects.

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