Ospreys undertake extraordinary migrations facing multiple hazards that cause significant mortality and welfare impacts throughout their annual cycle.
Osprey migration involves extraordinary physical demands. The trans-Saharan crossing requires completing a 40-hour continuous flight without food or water, burning fat and muscle reserves. Arriving in degraded wintering habitat means prolonged recovery periods. Power line electrocution causes acute trauma and death or injury leading to starvation. Young birds on their first solo migration face all these challenges without experience. Conservation of wintering habitat and retrofitting of dangerous power infrastructure directly reduces osprey welfare impacts.