Pandion haliaetus -- (Linnaeus, 1758)ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- ACCIPITRIFORMES -- PANDIONIDAECommon names: Osprey; Balbuzard pêcheur

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe.

Within the EU27 this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in the EU27.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Canary Is. (to ES); Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK)Vagrant:Faroe Islands (to DK); Greenland (to DK); Iceland

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 8,400-12,300 pairs, which equates to 16,700-24,600 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 5,800-7,500 pairs, which equates to 11,600-15,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and Ecology

It inhabits the areas around shallow waters, being sufficiently tolerant of human settlement to persist in

suburban and sometimes urban environments. It breeds from late May to early September and most pairs are monogamous but polygynous trios form where males can easily defend two nests. The nest is a large collection of sticks and flotsam, lined with grasses and moss where available, usually wedged high (up to 30 m above the ground) in an exposed tree or will also nest on cliff. Clutches are from one to four eggs. Its diet almost entirely consists of live fish (Poole et al. 2014). The species migrates on broad fronts and is not dependent on land bridges during migration (Snow and Perrins 1998, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). Migrants begin moving to lower latitudes in August and arrive by October, returning in March and April (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001).

Habitats & AltitudeHabitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence

Artificial/Aquatic - Aquaculture Ponds suitable breedingArtificial/Aquatic - Aquaculture Ponds suitable non-breedingArtificial/Aquatic - Canals and Drainage Channels, Ditches suitable breedingArtificial/Aquatic - Canals and Drainage Channels, Ditches suitable non-breedingArtificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over ha) suitable breedingArtificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over ha) suitable non-breedingMarine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable breedingMarine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Estuaries suitable breedingMarine Neritic - Estuaries suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Macroalgal/Kelp suitable breedingMarine Neritic - Macroalgal/Kelp suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Seagrass (Submerged) suitable breedingMarine Neritic - Seagrass (Submerged) suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel suitable breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs suitable breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy suitable breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy suitable non-breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy-Mud suitable breedingMarine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy-Mud suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breedingWetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable non-breedingAltitude 0-1000 m Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsHuman persecution was the main historical threat, prevalent from the 18th–20th centuries (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). A combination of deforestation and the collection of eggs and live birds drove the species extinct in Azerbaijan (Poole et al. 2014). Numbers fell from 1950–1970 as a result of pesticide use, although they are now recovering. Pesticide use has now been reduced to a minor threat. In Scotland the species had been extirpated by collection and hunting but is now recovering (Poole et al. 2014, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001), but shooting still affects many birds on migration in the Mediterranean, notably in Malta. It is very highly vulnerable to the effects of potential wind energy development (Strix 2012).Threats & Impacts

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and StressesAgriculture & aquaculture

Agro-industry plantations

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion

Threats & ImpactsThreat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (persecution/control)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Energy production & mining

Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation; Species mortality

Pollution Herbicides and pesticides

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesIndirect ecosystem effects

ConservationConservation Actions UnderwayEU Birds Directive Annex I. CMS Appendix II. Reintroduction has helped populations to recover across parts of its range and pesticide use has been reduced, as seen in the Fennoscandian population which increased after a reduction in pollutants (mainly organochlorides and mercury) (Poole et al. 2014).

Conservation Actions ProposedDisturbance during the breeding season can be reduced by establishing protective zones 200–300 m wide around the nest. This, along with nest wardening, rebuilding of damaged nests and the provision of artificial nests in safe locations where necessary, would also assist breeding success. The spread of pollutants should be reduced. Fish-farms visited by migrating birds should use equipment to scare birds and prevent access to fish stocks rather than shoot them (Tucker and Heath 1994).

BibliographyFerguson-Lees, J. and Christie, D.A. 2001. Raptors of the world. Christopher Helm, London.Poole, A.F., Kirwan, G.M., Christie, D.A. and Marks, J.S. 2014. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/52947 on 12 March 2015).Snow, D.W. and Perrins, C.M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Tucker, G.M. and Heath, M.F. 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status. BirdLife Conservation Series no. 3, BirdLife International, Cambridge.

Map (see overleaf)