PSNH Relocates Osprey Nest
 

Pretty cool operation by the folks at PSNH.

http://www.wmur.com/news/30930367/detail.html

http://www.wmur.com/slideshow/news/30928393/detail.html

osprey
 

Did the Osprey use the new nest?

I don't know. It looked, from the video, like the new nest was built on the grounds of the Lakes Region Community College. I meant to go check it out today, but got tied up.

It's on my list for tomorrow after church.

nesting on electric poles
 

you may find that the birds come right back and try to re-build their nest in the spot they originally picked they are very tenacious. there was a pair that did the exact same thing near my house in RI, every time the nest was taken down they would start a new one - until - someone figured out to top the electric pole with traffic cones, and this ended the problem, the birds had plenty of other spots to build on and they have. if they keep trying to build up there on the wires pass this on it might help - i will post a picture later on when i go up that way.

The Precision of this bird is incredible!

Watch; http://www.youtube.com/embed/nA3LtXn...layer_embedded


Terry
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They did come right back...
 

Took these pictures late this morning, before the rain really started. The one I saw was hard at work rebuilding the nest on the same pole. It flew right over the newly created nest carrying sticks and branches.

It is a beautiful bird. What amazed me seeing it up close, was the wingspan and the complete control it seemed to have going about it's "job".

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as i posted - lol
 

i took pics of our "osprey on the power pole" solution this afternoon, you may want to pass this on because once these birds choose a nest site the are determined to build there.this solution is cheap - tasteful and it works! the site in the pics has been osprey free for a couple of years now, they were forced to find a new site, we have so many nesting sites now it would be impossible to tell which one is theirs.
at the ballfield there are a couple of nests (have been for years) on top of the field lights. across from the town beach a pole and nest was erected and a pair took it over right away. what amazed me was during a powerful spring northeaster a few years ago the waves tore thru the chainlink fence in the beach parking lot, flooded the street, the wind took down trees and telephone poles along the beach and in the end, among all the carnage there stood the osprey nest all by itself! they build one strong nest!:D

Elegant Solution!
 

Funny, I was thinking as I watched the bird bring stick after stick to the old nest site.. "they could have just put some sort of dome on the top of the pole after they took the original nest down" . Looks like they power company in your area figured it out.

new nest
 

it may just be the angle of the shot but is the new nest built for these ospreys below the tree level? they may not like that, i dont think it is a height thing as much as a clear view of the surrounding area - which usually makes it a height thing.

one funny aside - last year driving up the road between the marsh early in the a.m. an osprey flew over me with all he could do handling the what seemed to be a half a tree that he found - lol - i thought to myself if he dropped that and it came thru my windshield i would be skewered and they would have a hell of a time trying to figure out how that came to be. lol - also my wife had a clam drop on her ($300 plus) windshield shattering it while driving up the same road - birds can be expensive.:laugh: .
send the power company the pic of the traffic cones it is a really quick easy fix.

Ya, it's just the angle...
 

The new post they put in is not above the surrounding tree levels. It's actually about the same exact hight of the post they are building on and only 100 yards away.

I'm going to check on them today now that the rain has stopped.

4-23-12 Update
 

PSNH was back on the job today and cleared the nest one more time. They then modified the wiring to make it a "1 line" (I have no idea what that means.) These guys that worked on this are genuinely interested in the safety of the osprey, and really nice guys also.

The goal of the rewiring was to make it next to impossible for the birds to try and rebuild. They also modified several of the adjacent poles. I was very impressed with these folks.

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The Osprey on the other hand, not so much! They made a number of "inspection" flights over the poles as the guys were working. First couple of passes they had more sticks with them ready to start again on the rebuild.

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new nest
 

hell of a lot faster and cheaper to just put the traffic cones up - lol:D

If at first you don't succeed...
 

PSNH is going to give it another shot...

Story here:

http://www.laconiadailysun.com/node/131859/18661

I went by the spot several times lately, and they are still in the area looking for a new nesting site.

Succeed

Update 4-26-12
 

The osprey is at least giving the nest put up by PSNH. This was taken this morning 4-26-12.

Good News? We'll see.

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I think this is the female... but I'm no expert.

Thanks to PSNH & Iain MacLeod
 

Iain MacLeod, the executive director of the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center works closely with PSNH and NH Audubon to help protect the Osprey population. He started a program in NH to monitor and help increase their numbers. I think he builds these nests in his garage... he is responsible, along with PSNH, and NHA for "relocating" several Osprey nests, including the one at Ayers Island, which has a webcam-thanks to PSNH. You can watch these beautiful raptors raise their family. Here is the site:
http://www.psnh.com/Environment/Osprey-Online.aspx

They have relocated to the new nest!
 

Iain MacLeod, sent me this response to an e-mail I sent him this afternoon with the picture I posted above of one of the Oasprey in the "new" nest.

"Thanks Steve

Great photo. The pair has certainly found the nest now and we are not planning on moving the pole. Several people have reported both birds in the nest today and taken more photos.

Thank you so much"

I love happy endings to story's like this. Lot's of thanks to Mr. MacLeod and the crews from PSNH.

Congratulations
 

Thanks,

All I can say is :blush:.

Sometimes your in the right place at the right time...
(now if that bit of luck would happen when I buy a "quick pick"
mega millions ticket! :rolleye1: )

A little drama at the nest today...
 

... they had a visitor in the form of another Osprey..

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After a brief and noisy "air battle" the interloper decided he wasn't welcome. :eek:

A quick check with the expert from the Squam Natural Science Center got this email response from Iain MacLeod.

"Very normal. Younger ospreys looking for vacant territories or openings to pair with a bird who has lost a mate will "visit" nests looking for an opening. It can be a daily occurrence. I'm at the nest now and female has already laid her first egg. She is sitting."

Electricity and mathematics are generally a mystery to me, but I think two wires touched by their wingtips results in electric shock. :eek: