welcome to the Osprey NestWatch Volunteer Program

Osprey NestWatch is a Volunteer Program developed by the Upper Columbia Basin Network Inventory and Monitoring Program (UCBN) in collaboration with Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LARO). The main objectives of this effort are to monitor osprey nest use and nesting success, and to inform park staff and the public about the status and trend of the osprey populations at Lake Roosevelt NRA.

Why are osprey monitored at Lake Roosevelt NRA?

Ospreys are a key natural resource at Lake Roosevelt NRA. Ospreys occupy most ecosystems, are migratory, cover large home ranges, and are top predators in complex food webs. Fish constitute their primary diet, so ospreys are susceptible to second-hand environmental contaminants in the food chain. Additionally, ospreys are sensitive to human disturbance, which along with the presence of contaminants in the water, can have a negative effect on osprey reproduction. All of these factors make osprey an indicator species that can provide information on the overall condition of an ecosystem.
Data collected by UCBN survey crews and by volunteers will provide important information about the status and trends of osprey nest occupancy and reproductive success, and will help guide park management decisions.

nest and boat

How to participate in Osprey NestWatch?

To be part of the monitoring team, volunteers will need to adopt one or more osprey nest(s) present at Lake Roosevelt NRA, monitor nest activity throughout the breeding season and report their observations online. This program is web-based and free of charge. All the necessary information will be found on the website. To participate, volunteers will need to fill out a registration form and submit it to the volunteer coordinator at Paulina_Starkey@partner.nps.gov. Your completed registration form will be reviewed and approved and we will send a confirmation of your registration to the e-mail you provided. Once approved, you will receive a login username and can start recording your observations.

Goals of Osprey NestWatch Volunteer Program:

  • Involve park staff, local birdwatchers and school groups in gathering natural resource data. A greater number of people keeping an eye on nests helps make osprey monitoring more cost-effective.
  • Collect long-term monitoring data on osprey nest and productivity.
  • Keep park staff and the public informed about the status and trends of osprey reproduction at Lake Roosevelt NRA.

Join us and help provide valuable information about the osprey population at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area!