Weather and Osprey foraging energetics

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Abstract
The influence of weather on the foraging behavior of breeding male Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) was investigated from an energetic perspective. Neither cloud cover, sun brightness, nor precipitation had significant effects on foraging performance. Wind speed and water surface conditions both had an effect, and as expected, they were very highly correlated. As wind speed increased (and surface conditions deteriorated), Ospreys glided more and flapped less while hunting, but each hunt became longer and was less likely to terminate with capture of a fish. Wind speed was by far the strongest effect. Overall, more work was required to capture each prey as wind speed increased, and the data indicate that the detrimental effects increase sharply at wind speeds greater than about 7 m/s. The results are compared with previous investigations of Osprey foraging.