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Twitchers delight as rare Ospreys nest near Georges River

Media release: 19 September 2016

An eagle-eyed National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) officer has photographed a pair of rare and endangered Eastern Ospreys nesting at the very southern edge of their known breeding range, near Georges River in Sydney's South.

NPWS Regional Manager Gary Dunnett said the sighting is great news for the species as they are not known to breed this far south and may indicate they are repopulating a greater area of their range.

"The Eastern Osprey is quite magnificent to see in flight but despite a wingspan of up to 1.7 metres, they are still much smaller than the White bellied sea eagle," Mr Dunnett said.

"The species is uncommon to rare or absent from closely settled parts of south-eastern Australia so for this part of Sydney to have a breeding pair in the area is really very special.

"The fact that an apex predator such as Ospreys are nesting is also a great sign about the environmental health of the Georges River system.

"These birds favour coastal areas where they hunt for fish to feed their growing brood.

"It was not possible to see the number of chicks these birds are tending but they usually incubate 2-4 eggs.

"I am looking forward to seeing the chicks fledge in a month or so and hope they too stay in the area when they fly the nest," Mr Dunnett said.

For more information on Osprey visit.

Photos for media: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nswnationalparks/albums/72157672706183572 Photo Credit: G Dunnett OEH

Contact: Gabrielle Last

Page last updated: 20 September 2016