NC H39

Designates the osprey (Pandion haliaetus carolinensis) as the official raptor of North Carolina by adding § 145-52 to Chapter 145 of the General Statutes.

Ospreys are 21-26 inches tall with wingspans up to 6 feet, distinguished by dark plumage on back and wings with white underside and distinctive white head markings.

Ospreys are unique among North American raptors, feeding almost exclusively on approximately 80 species of saltwater and freshwater fish and diving up to 30 miles per hour to catch prey with specially equipped talons.

Ospreys are highly observable birds that build large nests in dead trees and man-made structures over water, reach sexual maturity in their third year, are monogamous, and have average life expectancies exceeding 10 years.

The U.S. osprey population has increased steadily since 1960 when it was at an all-time low due to pesticide contamination, and the birds serve as indicators of environmental health due to their sensitivity to contaminants.