It is nothing short of miracle. These two osprey flew south last October to spend the winter apart in Central or South America. They flew separately, there and back, and met up at their old nest site, as far as I can tell, yesterday, April 10th.
The osprey’s nest was removed from the tower of the BNSF railroad bridge last October when the 90 year old tower was dismantled. An nesting platform was installed on March 28th near the old site by Seattle Parks and Recreation and Seattle City Light.
The nesting platform is on a 70 pole and includes a perch and pre-installed branches.
Here is the pair as I saw them today!
Thanks again to Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle City Light, BNSF and Washington State Fish and Wildlife for making this happen.
Thanks for the info!
Constructed osprey nests are very successful in many places — combined with webcams, it provides science study opportunities, public viewing, remote health and maintenance monitoring. In Montana, on the Clark Fork River, more than 50 constructed osprey nests are monitored and 3 have constant live web-contact. Check them out at http://www.umt.edu/home/stories/2011/06/osprey.php and http://www.umt.edu/geosciences/faculty/langner/Osprey/index.htm . It’s almost like being there.
A great idea!
Congratulations to the happy Osprey couple. Perhaps an Osprey pole might also be placed at the other end of the ship canal when the 520 bridge project is complete and City Light could put up more Osprey poles in the Duwamish.
Yes, I bike by everyday and see them fishing, sitting on their perch and calling. The nest is low enough maybe we’ll even get to see the chicks this year!
Sue, Great photos and news! kd
Hi Sue:
Your photos are wonderful! They’re such spectacular birds, glad to see that they are adapting quite well to their new nesting site. Jenny
Me too!
Now, if we could just find homes for the 200 homeless men and women living on the streets of my neighborhood.
Yaay! This makes me happy.