Osprey Nest Burns
by Nancy Wood,
Sunday, August 7, 2011.....

At 6:42 this morning flames were spotted by neighbors of the osprey nest perched atop the power pole at the intersection of Lake and Ferry Roads. Power was knocked out in most of the area in town west of the pole.

911 was called immediately. According to Stephen Brooks, who lives just west of the pole on Ferry Road, Green Mountain Power arrived within 10 minutes. Using their aerial lift, they put out the fire and removed the nest. Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue also responded.

Onne of the osprey parents frantically circled the area while the linemen were working on the burning nest. The lone baby bird, of an age about four weeks before fledging, stood on the edge and then fluttered to the ground. It had a soft landing in tall grass and within 45 minutes was retrieved by a raptor rescue volunteer who took it to a rehab facility.

Many of us have watched these birds with pleasure and anticipation of the youngster taking flight, always aware of the hazardous location of their home. Green Mountain Power removed the original nest at the end of April and placed protective insulation on the lines at that time. The parents rebuilt the nest within days. On May 15 it was smouldering, so GMP returned to remove it again. However, there were two eggs by then, so the nest was left. The State Fish and Wildlife folks and GMP have been monitoring it ever since. We’ll follow up with more news of the young bird when available.