ummertime visitors today are often treated to the site of osprey plunging "feet-first" into the water after their primary prey, fish. Though native to the area, not too long ago osprey were unknown in the region, victims of pesticides such as DDT, illegal hunting and habitat loss. By 1950, nesting osprey were not found anywhere in Kentucky.

Beginning in 1984, LBL took part in a Kentucky-wide osprey restoration effort aimed at re-establishing a resident population of nesting birds. Using a raise and release technique called "hacking," young birds were raised isolated from human contact on a tall hacking tower near the Nature Station. The birds successfully "fledged" -- flew from their man-made nests, in the hopes that when they matured, they would return to the area to breed.

The hacking effort continued through 1990 years and is considered a success. Today, a growing population nests in the LBL region. To further encourage nesting, biologists have placed large platforms on and around the lake, and many of them now sport osprey nests.

Canada Goose
(Branta canadensis)
One of the first wildlife restoration projects undertaken in Land Between The Lakes, this project was initiated by TVA and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in 1965, and continued for the next two decades.

To establish a nesting population, biologists first provided artificial nesting structures such as floating platforms and tubs mounted on poles. Twenty-three geese were released in LBL. Over the years these birds matured and returned to nest in LBL.

To accelerate the goose restoration effort, in 1979 biologists began collecting eggs from wild nests to be incubated artificially. Because wild geese will lay a second clutch of eggs if the first is destroyed, removing these eggs could potentially double the flock's breeding success.

The removed eggs were incubated and hatched at the Dunce Bay Wildlife Restoration Center which was constructed specifically for the Canada geese project. The hatched goslings were raised and released throughout the Southeast, including LBL.

Today, geese can be seen at LBL's Honker and Hematite Lake near the Nature Station, Energy Lake, and along many bays.