WAUPACA COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A bird which prefers to eat nothing but whole fish needs some assistance from anglers in the area.
The Osprey consumes a steady supply of fish to get through the winter, an area rehabilitator is asking for some help.
Inside the garage at The Feather Wildlife Rehab/Education Center near New London, the owner says the freezer is about half-full of fish.
“It’s only January. We got a long time to go before those guys are out on open water. So anything we can get down, will be mostly appreciated,” said Pat Fisher, The Feather Wildlife Rehab/Education Center Owner.
Fisher says the Osprey is one of about a dozen educational birds at the center. The bird would typically migrate to South America, but a broken wing keeps it at the site permanently.
“This one only likes fish. So, always looking for additional fish to be able to feed her. She’ll go through anywhere from one to three in a day, depending on the size of those fish,” said Adam Brandt, The Feather Wildlife Rehab/Education Center Volunteer.
Brandt says the Osprey will eat panfish, like bluegills, and crappies, and she likes sheepshead too.
“She won’t touch filets, but the whole fish is ideal. The other thing that’s important is that the fish has to be the right size for her. Osprey have really big feet, and so, if a fish is too small, she can’t get at anything because her foot is covering the entire fish,” said Brandt.
Brandt says the fish need to be from 7-20 inches long. He says the Osprey will eat the entire fish, and anglers should make sure they remove any hooks before dropping off the donations.
“We scan every fish that comes in before it is fed to her with a metal detector, but still, can never be too careful. The last thing we want is for her to get a hook in one of those fish she’s going to eat,” he said.
Rehabilitators say the best way to help is to send an email to: feather7@charter.net
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