The Journeys of Nantucket’s Ospreys
Dr. Bob Kennedy with a red-tail hawk
At the end of each summer, the Ospreys that nest and raise their young on Nantucket embark on a long journey back to Central and South America. In collaboration with The Trustees of Reservation, Maria Mitchell’s Senior Research Fellow Dr. Bob Kennedy has attached GPS transmitters to two Nantucket Osprey. The first, Mr Hannah, was tracked for a full year before disappearing during his second tracked journey to South America. The second, Senor Bones, is currently in South America for his second winter wearing the GPS backpack. As winter gives way to spring, the Osprey return to Nantucket. The first sighting of an Osprey usually occurs around the end of March though the exact day varies year to year.
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Google Earth Files:
You need to have or download Google Earth to your computer to open this. Download the file and then extract it. Once you open the file, zoom in on one of the purple circles, you will get a message that will give you the date, time (subtract 5 hours to get Eastern Time), coordinates, and his altitude, speed and direction at that point in his travels.
Download the April 24 to May 8 Google Earth file
Download the March 22 to April 4 Google Earth file
Download the March 19 to April 1 Google Earth file
Download the March 16 to 26 Google Earth file
Download the March 16 to 23 Google Earth file
Senor Bones wears a small GPS transmitter.