Hear all about it!
There are between two and six breeding pairs on Island and at least six Ospreys all year round. Around springtime, numbers increase to about 20 birds for the breeding season.
Osprey nests are made up of sticks and debris which are woven together to form high piles. Rottnest has at least 14 nest sites. The nests are added to each year and can become very large. Some are several metres across and measure more than one metre from bottom to lip.
Ospreys search for their prey by soaring or circling above a body of water and watching below for fish. When they spot their prey, they hover above it and then dive down. They snatch their food from near the surface or just under the water with their taloned feet. They can submerge themselves if necessary up to 1m under water. Ospreys have also occasionally taken flying birds.
