Blog #420 Fireball: Tragedy Strikes
Orpheus with twigs for the nest, courtesy of Michael Dean.
The loss of an Osprey, especially an adult raising a family, is a heartbreak. A few weeks ago, we lost a healthy young father of two at the Cornell Research Ponds on Niemi Road, Lansing, to electrocution. The fireman said it was a perfect storm of events: the nest, made heavy by the
Nest burst into a fireball, courtesy of Flicker.
rain, touched the energized electrical wires just as the adult male flew to the nest with a new stick. Contact was made, the father was electrocuted, and the nest burst into a fireball. All that remained were burn marks on the power pole, charred feathers on the male’s feet, and that awful burnt electrical smell. Thankfully, his mate and offspring were not nearby. Like others in our area, this two-year-old nest was built on a utility pole just inches above the live wires.
Around Cayuga Lake, Ospreys commonly nest on double-armed or double-buck utility poles, where their sloppy nests occasionally cause fires. NYSEG has tried to identify
Nests built on double-armed or double-buck utility poles are often tragedies in the making.
potentially hazardous nests and install nest risers before the Osprey eggs are laid in the spring. This is a win-win solution for both parties, with the Ospreys nesting safely and not causing expensive brownouts in the community. Brown-outs can damage sensitive equipment, causing public works, manufacturing, and business failures, and cost lives by shutting off life-saving medical equipment.
A nest on a riser was installed by Paul Batz’s crew.
NYSEG has been a champion of Ospreys around Cayuga Lake for over a decade. Paul Batz, now a retired Auburn line supervisor with NYSEG, began helping area Ospreys by building nest risers to hold the Osprey nests safely above the electrified wires. He’d build them in his garage and his crews would install them, giving these raptors safer places to nest.
In 2019, a riser had been requested for a nest on Spring Street in Union Springs. NYSEG did not take action; a nest fire caused a brownout later in the season. The following year, the Ospreys rebuilt in the same spot as they typically do, with the nest touching the power lines. The unfortunate mother-to-be’s wing made contact with the wires, completing an electrical circuit, killing the bird and eggs, damaging the Department of Public Works pumps, and cutting power to residents in the region. The costly incident also damaged the municipal pumps with many residents losing power.
Following the Covid pandemic, NYSEG’s Osprey support has tapered off significantly. At least 15 nests around Cayuga Lake present fire hazards and are in serious need of risers. The nest that was just burnt was reported to NYSEG last year. Unfortunately, this is dangerous work that can only be performed by NYSEG professionals.
Lani, Class of 2022, taking flight, courtesy of Cynthia Sedlacek.
One might think that simply removing the Osprey nest in the off-season would solve the problem, causing the birds to nest elsewhere. However, Ospreys are particularly single-minded, tenacious animals with long memories. Once they have chosen a nest location, they will continue to build in the same spot unless they are physically prevented or lose multiple broods to predators. Installing risers offers double benefits directing nest building away from the dangerous live wires and giving the Osprey a stable place to raise their families.
As this Osprey season wraps up, we have more nests than ever in need of NYSEG’s risers' help. Residents living within three miles of the lake could consider building a
Volunteers erect a 15-foot Osprey platform, courtesy of capecodtimes.com.
12-50 foot Osprey platform if they have an appropriate property that does not interfere with telephone wires. It is in NYSEG’s best interest to tend to the Osprey nests to keep the Osprey nests off the wires. Contact the Cayuga Lake Osprey Network at cec222@gmail.com for guidance on siting platforms.
To prevent a repetition of the Niemi Road tragedy, the Cayuga Lake Osprey Network partnered with Benjamin Sterrett from the Cornell University Department of Ecology and workers from Cornell’s Farm Services to build two Osprey platforms in the experimental ponds area. Read more about this project in an upcoming blog. Hopefully, the adult female from the Niemi Road nest will relocate to one of the new, safer nests next year.
Eyes to the sky!
Candace
Candace E. Cornell
Friends of Salt Point, Lansing, NY
Cayuga Lake Osprey Network
EYES TO THE SKY!
WATCH!
READ!
On Osprey Time: Ospreys of the Finger Lakes
VISIT!
HELP PROTECT OSPREYS:
•Report any Cayuga Lake Osprey nests resting on utility wires to NYSEG (Paul Paradine
(607) 347-2135) and the Cayuga Lake Osprey Network at cec222@gmail.com. The Network keeps track of potentially hazardous nests and regularly informs NYSEG of this need.
•Stay 300 feet away from nests during the breeding season. If the Osprey vocalizes, you are too close! Back off Immediately.
•Carry binoculars to view wildlife from afar.
•Help keep local waters clean, healthy, and safe.
•Recycle used fishing lines, twine, and nets, which can kill Osprey.
•Join the Cayuga Osprey Network and volunteer to help monitor Osprey nests: cec222@gmail.com.
Thank you!
Comments
Post a Comment