Central Coast Council has welcomed the sight of the resident Eastern osprey pairs nesting across the Central Coast again this year.

Five breeding pairs have made the Coast their home this year, with at least two welcoming chicks in the past few months.

Council’s Environmental Education officer, Nick Carson said three of the osprey pairs were nesting on Council facilities.

“We have had a pair of Ospreys nesting on a purpose built platform at Council’s Erina works depot since 2012 and have since had others nesting at Central Coast Stadium and the Kincumber Sewage Treatment Plant,” Mr Carson said.

“We have had reports of two other pairs making the Coast their home, one at Woy Woy and the other at The Entrance.

“In the past couple of weeks we have seen the fledglings of the pairs at the Erina Depot and Central Coast Stadium emerge from the nest and start to learn to fly, it’s a great sight to see.”

Eastern ospreys, Pandion cristatus, are listed as a vulnerable species in NSW, meaning they face the risk of extinction in the medium-term future.

Mr Carson said community members wishing to see the eastern osprey should keep an eye out around our waterways where they like to hunt for fish.

“The eastern ospreys look similar to the White bellied sea eagles found here on the Coast, but are smaller in size,” Mr Carson said.

“They also have a different mode of catching their prey, preferring to plunge dive for fish, rather than swooping in and grabbing with their talons. 

“Another key feature of the osprey is the way they carry fish they have caught, preferring to make sure the head of the fish is facing forward during flight to improve aerodynamics. 

“The waterways here on the Central Coast are home to some pretty special animals, the Eastern osprey being one of them.”

We can all play our part in looking after our ospreys by keeping the Central Coast’s waterways healthy. Residents can do this by disposing of rubbish and fishing tackle responsibly, composting grass clippings and washing vehicles on the grass.

For more information, visit our Love our living lakes website or download Council’s Multi-Touch Books for iPad’s by searching Central Coast Council in iTunes.

To report an injured bird, please contact Australian Seabird Rescue Central Coast on 0438 862 676 or Wildlife ARC on 4325 0666.