Osprey Research

Versatile osprey-related research is essential in creating a strong foundation for the species’ conservation. Being few-numbered, the osprey is classified as “near threatened” in the Finnish classification system for endangered species. There are estimated to be 1000 – 1200 osprey pairs nesting in Finland.

The osprey is one of the most studied bird species in our country. Monitoring ospreys started already in 1971. The research is still in progress.

Annually circa 200 osprey ringers take part in the project. Nowadays, the research area covers over 700 osprey nests.

Osprey research is supervised and co-ordinated by the Finnish Museum of Natural History.

Objectives of Field Research

• surveying of nesting population
• long-term monitoring of the population dynamics
• annual ringing of osprey nestlings and, in some cases, adult ospreys
• collection of biometric data
• filing of data related to nesting trees and haunts
• collection of unhatched eggs and nestlings found dead (for pollution studies etc)
• nutrition research
• satellite tracking the progress of osprey migration

Satellite Osprey “Jukka”

September 29, 2010
In the autumn of 2009 started a new satellite tracking project between the Finnish Musem of Natural History, the Finnish Osprey Foundation and UPM. The project monitors the life of a male osprey "Jukka" with a GPS-Argos satellite transmitter. The scientific supervisor of the project is professor Pertti Saurola.

Jukka was equipped with the satellite transmitter in July 2009. The transmitter is the same, which was in use with the satellite Osprey Pete in 2007-2008. (See the right side of this page.)

Information about Jukka's Autumn and Spring Migrations from 2009 to 2012 and also Wintering seasons in the northern part of Cameroon and Summer seasons in Finland can be found on the website of the Finnish Museum of Natural History:

Satellite Osprey Jukka

Satellite Tracking of Ospreys

In Finland, since 2001 there are already 13 ospreys equipped with a satellite transmitter. The device enables the real-time tracking of ospreys’ migration duration and routes.

With the satellite transmitters, osprey migration’s progress can be monitored as if one were “Nils Holgersson” and flying on the back of an osprey. In other words, the satellite system enables the collection of precise information about the speed and the resting and food spots of the journey. This would be impossible with just traditional ringing.

Satellite monitoring has produced a great amount of new and valuable information. The female osprey “Mirja” was the target of public interest in 2005 when Helsingin Sanomat, the largest newspaper in the Nordic countries, as well as other media houses reported on a Mirja’s journey of migration. (See the "Mirja" -page on the website of the Finnish Museum of Natural History)

In 2002 autumn, the satellite osprey “Harri” migrated all the way from Utsjoki to the southmost tip of Africa. In the end, the journey’s length was 12 500 km.

Satellite Osprey “Pete” 

In the summer of 2007 started a project to monitor the life of a male osprey with a satellite transmitter. The scientific supervisor of the project was professor Pertti Saurola. The satellite osprey "Pete", named after his ringer, got the satellite transmitter on 14.7.2007.

Pete’s autumn migration in 2007 from Finland to Africa proceeded very well. The spring migration back to Finland ended sadly in Morocco, where Pete perished in April 2008. Pete's carcass was founded on 23rd July 2008. See the Osprey Foundation notification.

More detailed information about satellite tracking can be found at the Finnish Museum of Natural History’s website.

Pertti Nikkanen and Pertti Saurola checking the proper attachment of the transmitter.