In 1977, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) began monitoring the state’s osprey population as it recovered from the effects of DDT. Staff biologists and volunteers observed all known nests in Rhode Island and recorded how many chicks fledged each year. In 2010, with cooperation from RIDEM, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island took over management of this successful program.
The program depends upon volunteers to monitor nests every two weeks from April through July and record osprey presence/absence, behavior, and number of young. Volunteers must have their own spotting scope or high-power binoculars. If you would like to get involved or find out if there is a nest near you that needs monitoring, please contact Jon Scoones at jscoones@asri.org.