Aika Billheimer preparing for a nest mapping trip

(photo by Dan Billheimer)
THE INTERNATIONAL OSPREY FOUNDATION April 4, 2020

by Kathryn Brintnall, Board Member, The International Osprey Foundation


“Notebook and pen, check.”


“Water, check” “Smart-phone with map app, check” “TIOF uniform T-shirt, check.” “Put more air in my bike tire, check.”


“I’m ready,” called The International Osprey Foundation’s youngest volunteer to her dad as she prepared to help TIOF map all of the osprey nests on Sanibel and Captiva using GPS coordinates. Aika Billheimer is a sixth grader at The Sanibel School. Part of her social studies class requirement was a community service project. TIOF discovered this after a chance encounter with herat the Lighthouse Cafe. She needed a project, and TIOF needed help mapping osprey nests that were not yet located using GPS technology. It was a perfect fit.


TIOF board members Kathryn Brintnall and Jim Schnell met with Aika and her dad in November 2019 to discuss the requirements and timeline. Both parties were enthusiastic and the project was underway. Over the next six weeks, Aika and her dad traveled by boat and bike all over Sanibel and even up as far as Captiva and North Captiva. Taking careful notes, noting nest locations using GPS, and observing osprey nesting patterns. Aika logged over 15 hours for her service project. TIOF will enter her data into the Osprey Watch global database, used by Conservation and regulatory agencies such as Florida Fish and Wildlife to track population trends and inform environmental policy.


Aika also noted that although she catalogued 32 nests, there were not many osprey attending those nests in December. Her observations were more evidence Sanibel has two different populations of osprey, those that live in Florida year round, and those that migrate to South America, arriving back in Southwest Florida in the December through January timeframe.


Aika said she really loved her project because she got to be “out in nature and learn .about ospreys.” She notices them all the time now as she is out and about “on island.” Her favorite times were on her bike and her uncle’s boat checking out nests all over the islands. Aika also had some input for her peers who are more into sports or talking on their phones. “They could also get out into nature, and see how beautiful it is. It would be nice if we had an after-school nature Ccub, too,” she added. “Kids might enjoy taking a tour of some of the nests when there are birds there.”


Brintnall expressed her appreciation of Aika’s work to Charles (Chuck) Villardi, principal of The Sanibel School. She informed him that Aika made a significant contribution to TIOF.


Brintnall also remarked on how important it is that young people engage in meaningful projects that allow them to contribute to real environmental solutions and research at a young age. The collaboration between The Sanibel School and TIOF was just such an opportunity.


Villardi indicated that Aika’s service project was a perfect example of what made him so proud of “his kids,” and their involvement in the community.


TIOF President Susan Tucker said at a recent board meeting, “ We are hoping that a lot more young people will join with TIOF in its mission.”


The International Osprey Foundation’s mission is to preserve, educate the public, and research the lives of ospreys worldwide. Learn more at www.ospreys.com.

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Osprey Nesting Season Surpasses Sustainability Benchmark

By Barbara Linstrom • July 21, 2026
SCCF wrapped up the monitoring of its first-ever osprey nesting season with impressive results: 187 of 221 chicks fledged, an 84.6% success rate, and a productivity rate of 1.24 — well above the 0.8–1.15 range needed to sustain the population. Volunteers monitored 151 active nests across Sanibel, Captiva, Pine Island, and Fort Myers Beach as part of a program that watches over 200 osprey nests throughout the region to track population health and reproductive success, feeding data into the global OspreyWatch database. Because ospreys eat an almost entirely fish-based diet, their populations act as a sentinel for water quality — making this season’s strong numbers a good sign for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems, not just its raptors. In January, The International Osprey Foundation officially transferred its mission to SCCF. Founded in 1981, TIOF spent decades building the region’s osprey program before entrusting it to SCCF. With its mission to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems, the osprey monitoring program complements SCCF’s broader conservation science work.  Learn more about our osprey monitoring work>>> Adopt an osprey nest to support our efforts>>>

Time of Year for Young Ospreys to Take Flight

July 15, 2026
Fledgling on the left, compared to its parent on the right. Young ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) began to take flight last month, with at least 43 chicks fledged after months of efforts from osprey parents. Ospreys lay an average of 3 eggs that hatch after 5-6 weeks of incubation. Young chicks can be hard to see from below, so it may take a few weeks for chicks to be confirmed. SCCF volunteer monitors can rely on various clues to determine that a nest has hatched, such as observing the female sitting higher and displaying behaviors like feeding and shading.

Volunteers Confirm 43 Osprey Nests with Chicks

July 15, 2026
Since SCCF began monitoring ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in January 2026, the nesting season is in full swing, with numerous nests incubating and even the first chicks confirmed. The photo above, provided by volunteer Penny Albright, is the first confirmed chick! With the help of 40 volunteers, SCCF took over The International Osprey Foundation’s mission and is now monitoring nests on Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, and Pine Island. “Volunteers will continue to monitor nests until the latest chicks fledge in July,” said SCCF Osprey Monitoring Coordinator Amanda Manrique. Both resident and migratory ospreys begin nesting in Florida as early as December, with migratory birds arriving from as far south as Argentina. Ospreys are raptors — predatory birds with sharp talons and a sharp, curved beak. “Though they are sometimes nicknamed the ‘fish hawk’ or ‘sea hawk,’ they actually belong in their own unique family, Pandionidae, of which they are the only species,” adds Manrique. “Their range is amazing — it reaches every continent besides Antarctica.” Ospreys are especially prevalent near shallow waters, as they are heavily dependent on fish for their diet. They are opportunistic nesters and have been known to build nests on trees, chimneys, utility poles, signs, and man-made platforms. “They prefer to nest in open areas to protect their nests from ground predators, often making the nests highly visible to humans, which is great for monitoring the population,” said Manrique. Volunteers have been trained and all slots are filled for this season, with plans to open up again for next year’s nesting season.  Please watch or photograph osprey nests from a distance and report threats to sccfospreys@gmail.com. Learn more at sccf.org/osprey-monitoring

First Osprey Chicks of Nesting Season Confirmed

July 15, 2026
Since SCCF began monitoring ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in January 2026, the nesting season is in full swing, with numerous nests incubating and even the first chicks confirmed. The photo above, provided by volunteer Penny Albright, is the first confirmed chick! With the help of 40 volunteers, SCCF took over The International Osprey Foundation’s mission and is now monitoring nests on Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, and Pine Island. “Volunteers will continue to monitor nests until the latest chicks fledge in July,” said SCCF Osprey Monitoring Coordinator Amanda Manrique. Both resident and migratory ospreys begin nesting in Florida as early as December, with migratory birds arriving from as far south as Argentina. Ospreys are raptors — predatory birds with sharp talons and a sharp, curved beak. “Though they are sometimes nicknamed the ‘fish hawk’ or ‘sea hawk,’ they actually belong in their own unique family, Pandionidae, of which they are the only species,” adds Manrique. “Their range is amazing — it reaches every continent besides Antarctica.” Ospreys are especially prevalent near shallow waters, as they are heavily dependent on fish for their diet. They are opportunistic nesters and have been known to build nests on trees, chimneys, utility poles, signs, and man-made platforms. “They prefer to nest in open areas to protect their nests from ground predators, often making the nests highly visible to humans, which is great for monitoring the population,” said Manrique. Volunteers have been trained and all slots are filled for this season, with plans to open up again for next year’s nesting season.  Please watch or photograph osprey nests from a distance and report threats to sccfospreys@gmail.com. Learn more at sccf.org/osprey-monitoring

8.7K Birds Spotted During SanCap Christmas Bird Count

July 15, 2026
On Saturday, Dec. 20, SCCF staff and volunteers recorded 8,720 individual birds from 95 different species on Sanibel and Captiva as part of our islands’ contribution to the National Audubon Society’s 126th Christmas Bird Count, which took place between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, 2026. The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is one of the longest-running citizen science efforts in the world. SCCF and island conservation partners, including the Sanibel Captiva Audubon Society and the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, have collaborated on the Sanibel-Captiva CBC for over 60 years.  This year, 114 participants took part in the Sanibel-Captiva count, compared to 107 in 2024 and 95 in 2023.

Osprey Monitoring Begins with Volunteer Training

July 14, 2026
On Jan. 14, we held our first volunteer training for SCCF’s new osprey monitoring program following the transfer of The International Osprey Foundation (TIOF)’s mission to SCCF this month. Osprey nesting season in South Florida begins in late fall and lasts through mid to late spring. This year, new and existing TIOF/SCCF volunteers will be monitoring 197 osprey nests across Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, and Pine Island. “The status of these nests vary, some of them being new platforms, some being inactive in recent years, and some that were successful last season,” said SCCF Osprey Program Coordinator Amanda Manrique. “We also hope to expand our monitoring to North Captiva this season.” During the training, staff and seasoned TIOF volunteers covered the ins and outs of monitoring osprey nests, from recognizing the most subtle signs of nesting behavior and how to detect the presence of chicks, to differentiating adults and juveniles, to recording the most accurate data.

SCCF Takes on Mission of The International Osprey Foundation

July 14, 2026
The International Osprey Foundation (TIOF) and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) are proud to announce an exciting new chapter in their shared commitment to conservation: the official transfer of The International Osprey Foundation’s mission to the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. This milestone brings together two respected organizations united by common values, complementary strengths, and a deep dedication to protecting wildlife and inspiring environmental stewardship. Effective Jan. 1, the mission and enduring legacy of The International Osprey Foundation will live on and grow under the umbrella of SCCF. Through this transfer, SCCF will proudly carry forward TIOF’s internationally recognized leadership in osprey nest monitoring, nesting habitat restoration, education, and conservation — ensuring that this important work not only continues, but thrives as part of SCCF’s broader conservation, science, and education efforts.

TIOF & SCCF Celebrate a New Chapter in Conservation

January 8, 2026
SCCF Takes on Mission of The International Osprey Foundation The International Osprey Foundation (TIOF) and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) are proud to announce an exciting new chapter in their shared commitment to conservation: the official transfer of TIOF’s mission to SCCF. This milestone brings together two respected organizations united by common values, complementary strengths, and a deep dedication to protecting wildlife and inspiring environmental stewardship. Effective Jan. 1, the mission and enduring legacy of The International Osprey Foundation will live on and grow under the umbrella of SCCF. Through this transfer, SCCF will proudly carry forward TIOF’s internationally recognized leadership in osprey nest monitoring, education, nesting habitat restoration, and conservation — ensuring that this important work not only continues, but thrives as part of SCCF’s broader conservation, science, and education efforts. “This marks a moment of celebration and optimism for the future of osprey conservation,” said Kathryn Brintnall, President of The International Osprey Foundation. “By joining SCCF, we are securing a strong and sustainable home for TIOF’s mission. Together, we can expand our reach, deepen our impact, and ensure that the work so many have supported over the years continues to protect ospreys for generations to come.” As part of this shift, SCCF will assume stewardship of TIOF’s ongoing initiatives, long-standing data sets, and educational resources, ensuring continuity, accessibility, and new opportunities for collaboration. As TIOF relinquishes its official nonprofit status, its supporters can be confident that their passion and commitment will continue to be reflected in SCCF’s expanded programming and shared vision for conservation. “SCCF is excited to welcome The International Osprey Foundation’s mission, programs, and community into our organization,” said SCCF CEO James Evans. “Ospreys are powerful symbols of environmental health, and TIOF’s work beautifully complements SCCF’s integrated approach to conservation science, policy, and education. This partnership strengthens our ability to protect wildlife, advance science, and connect people to the natural world.” Read Press Release Here

Homecoming... And then there were FIVE!

April 25, 2025
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Pedro Lopez, a previous TIOF grant recipient

February 12, 2025
Pedro Lopez, a previous TIOF grant recipient, has provided an excellent video from the environmental organization BIOS CV depicting the cross-fostering of a juvenile osprey in Boa Vista in the Cape Verde Islands. Z24 was severely injured due to sibling aggression by its older and larger nestmates. Brood reduction, mediated by sibling aggression, is quite common in the Boa Vista osprey population. To aid in his survival, the near-fledging Z24, at 7 weeks old, was placed into another nest for a cross-fostering attempt. Typically, cross-fostering is done into nests with other nestlings but this was the first time that a near fledgling osprey had been transferred to a nest without nestlings. Watch the video of the successful cross-fostering of Z24!