Osprey

 

Short story, with some pictures.

A mating pair of osprey built a nest on top of a power pole near my home, (a few miles). They raised some young, and then left the nest last fall, to head south for the winter.

The power company then went up, and removed the nest. It was a fire hazard, and presented a danger to the osprey as well, being close to the live power lines.

They erected a TALLER pole nearby, about 15 yards away from the original nest site, and put up a standard raptor nest platform for the pair to use this year.

I am fairly certain that I got one of the last shots of the osprey last year, just before they left.

(last year, osprey)Osprey

This is a photo of the new pole, and platform erected last fall, after the osprey left the site.

(new pole)New Pole

Now that Spring, 2019 has arrived, I have been visiting the site at irregular times waiting for the osprey to return.

Earlier this week, They DID!

(Osprey returns) Return 1

BOTH! Both!

I have not seen any evidence of actual nest building yet, and I was out there this morning to check.

Two days ago, I saw this one fishing from a tree.

(osprey fishing)Fishing

I can only hope they will find the new pole and platform acceptable and stay to raise a new hatch this year!

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