08/05/2024
Hi, friends! You might remember last month when we helped Center for Birds of Prey reunite an osprey family. Read below for details of the rescue efforts as told by the center!
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“After a late afternoon storm on the 11th of July, the Center was notified via our Injured Bird Hotline that a long-standing Osprey nest in the Charleston National residential area of Mount Pleasant, had fallen. The caller was concerned for the two young birds that the neighborhood residents had been observing in the nest for several weeks.
Neighbors reported that the adult birds were circling and vocalizing loudly out of obvious concern for their fallen chicks. They also mentioned the routine presence of coyotes, foxes, and other predators in the area. With that, Kathy Roe, a Center volunteer staff member who happens to live nearby, was asked to retrieve the two young birds and hold them for safety overnight.
Early the next morning, Center personnel visited the site to assess what possible actions could be taken to provide the Osprey family with the means to successfully complete its nesting season despite the fallen nest tree.
“It was decided that a pine tree standing very close to the original nest location could be suitable for placement of a temporary nest platform in hopes that the birds would adopt it.
First, a call was placed to local hero, Chris Stewart, who runs a commercial tree service company and often helps the Center when needed. Chris kindly offered to provide the bucket lift required to reach the 60’ height for the platform. Center staff, having built many over the years, quickly constructed a 3’x3’ nest platform with the appropriate bracing and support elements and returned to the nest location. Jim Elliott, the Center’s Director, and Kathy Roe wrestled their way through the swamp vines to the remains of the soggy nest which they maneuvered onto a tarp and dragged to high land.
Chris Stewart soon arrived on site with his helper Victor Hernandez, assessed the best approach to reach the designated pine tree, and moved their truck into place. The lift bucket only has space for one, so Victor was tasked with single-handedly lifting and installing the heavy and unwieldly platform into its proper place high in the selected tree. He was amazing.
“Next step was for the nest material to be delivered to the platform where Elliott manned the bucket and arranged the nest to resemble its original form as closely as possible. It was interesting - and a little concerning – that no adults were heard or observed in the area during the entire time the platform and nest were being placed.
And then followed the most exciting part…..returning the young Ospreys to their nest. Kathy Roe placed each bird into its own cardboard carrier which Elliott squeezed, along with himself, into the lift bucket. He maneuvered the lift up to the waiting nest and carefully extracted the first bird from its box, releasing it into the restored nest. Working slowly so as not to flush the first bird, he made the same measured moves to deliver the second bird to join its sibling. He then backed the lift away from the platform as quickly and carefully as possible to keep from startling the birds. Thankfully, they held tight.
“Back on the ground, Chris Stewart promptly moved his lift truck, the group of gathered neighbors were asked to clear the area, and everyone retreated a safe distance away. Amazingly, within the hour, the adult Ospreys returned and were interacting with their young birds on the platform. Even better, the family has now completely reunited and both chicks have fledged although not yet dispersed from the nest area.
“This reunite has been deemed a successful effort. The homeowners have continued to observe the nest activity and have seen adults return many times with fish to feed to the juveniles.
The Center will continue to observe this nest in future years to document the long-term outcomes.
Our heartfelt thanks are extended to all involved in this successful endeavor, and we wish for these special, young birds years of thriving as the beautiful creatures they have become.”
