To the editor:

Early July 2026, a week before Flight School. Dad returns from another afternoon fishing trip, empty handed. Mom is not happy and turns to dad to re-evaluate another lost opportunity to have fish for dinner.

There are four mouths to feed. The mood is quite different this afternoon. The decision had already been made; my parents circled my twin brother and abruptly pushed him out of the nest. Un-able to fly on his own, he tumbles 15ft to the ground and left to starve to death or killed by predators on the ground.

Why would a pair of mature Osprey need to selectively murder one of their own fledglings? “We are going to lose both, if we don’t kill one, there are no Menhaden here to feed this year’s brood “

Four southern states, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina overfished Atlantic Menhaden stocks to a staggering 750 million metric tons in 2025. This year 2026, is on track to repeat similar pillaging of the oceans. These are NOAA’s stats. The same organization that is supposed to be monitoring and enforcing matters of National Marine Fisheries?

Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are all reporting that only 1 in 4 nests have fledglings this year.

The robust populations of Osprey are now at or below the late 1970’s DDT levels.

Osprey only eat fish. Until the Menhaden stocks return, we will continue to see abandoned nests.

Audubon.org has full coverage of this criss from the Chesapeake Bay to New England.

Little Island is located between Barrington Yacht Club and Warren, one fledgling of three survived this year. This is a true story.

Andy Soutter

Barrington