But this wildlife management success story comes with some conflict. Younger osprey in search of nesting sites to breed and hatch eggs will build nests on power poles, causing outages and putting the birds at risk of electrocution.
'We don't know if historically osprey had been in the
The new, or perhaps returning,
Osprey build nests by dropping sticks to their chosen site while in flight.
'Traditionally, they look for dead trees, snags, with the tops broken off for a nesting place,' said Restani. 'Power poles, especially those with cross arms, are often the choice of younger osprey looking to establish a new nesting site. It is dangerous for the birds and it is damaging to
Deterrents are PVC pipes that are secured above power poles' cross arms. When osprey drop sticks in flight on a power pole, the PVC pipe prevents them from hitting their target and the sticks fall to the ground. Five are now installed in the
'The public has been extremely helpful with this effort,' Restani said.
Another threat to osprey, ravens and other avian species also requires action by the public.
Unsecured baling twine picked up by birds and used in their nests has devastating, deadly consequences.
The birds can get tangled in the twine and cannot escape.
This spring the male of a pair of osprey that nested on a platform near
'It's really distressing to have this result,' Restani said. 'The crew called to remove the dead male said the female had abandoned the nest, which did have a couple of eggs in it.'
Baling twine should be secured in a covered container and disposed of properly to prevent osprey or other birds from picking it up to use in nests.
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