The Re-Building of an Osprey Nest

Winter storms on the island have a way of reshaping even the most familiar landmarks.
This year, one of them was a favored osprey nest, lost in a single storm event in February. What followed was a hands-on effort to rebuild it, with an unexpected and rewarding outcome of the osprey supervising the process and returning almost immediately, as if it had simply been waiting for the work to be done.

Osprey are remarkably loyal to their nesting sites, which made rebuilding this nest especially important. A lost nest, or even a missed breeding season, can sometimes cause a pair to separate. These birds are known for forming strong, long-term bonds that may last a lifetime. Still, even devoted osprey couples spend part of the year apart, migrating separately and often wintering in different parts of South or Central America before eventually finding their way back to one another each spring.

About the Osprey:

Osprey, often called “fish hawks,” naturally choose homes close to the water, where fishing is easy, and views are wide open. Their nests are impressive structures, sometimes reaching six feet in diameter and are not unlike the massive nests built by bald eagles. Interestingly, once the osprey travels south for the winter, bald eagles will occasionally move in and take over the empty nest for the season. This has become an exciting and increasingly common sight on Nantucket in recent years.

For more detailed osprey information, including an Mass Audubon bird camera, please see:  massaudubon.org

An additional osprey camera is located at the Barnstable High School, where there are three eggs currently incubating:  ipcamlive.com

For more Nantucket stories visit our blog at Fisher Real Eastate.