Posted July 15, 2016 6:31 pm by Comments

By Justin Stakes

Brian Washburn of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Julie Oakes of the Department of Natural Resources outfit an osprey chick with its GPS backpack.
Brian Washburn of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Julie Oakes of the Department of Natural Resources outfit an osprey chick with its GPS backpack.
Michigan DNR
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Lansing, MI -(AmmoLand.com)- Nearly absent from much of Michigan due to the effects of DDT, other pesticides and habitat loss, Michigan’s osprey population continues to rebound.

In southern Michigan, monitoring efforts are in place to track the revitalization of this species.

This year, four osprey chicks from area nests were outfitted with “backpack” GPS telemetry units, funded by Huron Valley Audubon with donations from DTE Energy and a private donor. The GPS backpacks will help scientists track the young birds’ daily movements and seasonal migration patterns.

The chicks were hatched on platforms at Kensington Metropark, Pointe Mouillee State Game Area and the Strong Unit of the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge and on a cellular tower in Milford. Crews from MD Tower Services, Newkirk-Electric and Earthcom Inc. climbed the towers in order to access the chicks for both banding and transmitter deployment. Brad Pieczarka also assisted with climbing.

“We are very excited to have this opportunity to place GPS units on several ospreys this year,” said Julie Oakes, a Department of …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand

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