Osprey Platform

I'm excited to report that I've been asked to assist in the installation of an Osprey nesting platform at Tuscarora State Park. I'll be working with a climber and ground crew from The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry. (Long name huh?)

The platform was built a little over 2 years ago by a high school girl as her senior project. Due to red tape and other unforseen circumstances, the platform has been sitting at the base of the target tree since then. The chosen tree is accessable only by boat, which will be provided by the PA Fish and Boat Commission. Lots of tax dollars at work here!

Details such as a date haven't been ironed out yet. I'll post more on this when I know more myself. Pics (of course) upon completion. I can't wait!

That's great. We are boring around here and they are placed on top of utility poles. I'd like to see one in a tree. Good luck, and I'm looking forward to the pictures.

...or they use whatever if convenient. I took this picture this morning of some Ospreys nesting in a cell tower which is a reasonably common place to find them.

Hmm, I seem to be having image problems...trying again.

God I love the government! There has finally been a meeting scheduled to \"discuss\" the installation of the platform. We will be meeting on Wednesday, at 2PM. Me, the park manager, the park environmental education specialist, the climber from DCNR/forestry, and a Watrways conservation Officer from the PA Fish and Boat Commission. (How many cooks fit in YOUR kitchen?)

I'm taking all of my gear, and I'm going to try to convince them to put the platform up right then, rather than to schedule ANOTHER meeting to discuss when to discuss setting up a time and date!!!!! RED TAPE!

Hey Baker,
You have not prepared an Environmental Impact Study or hired any consultants yet? How do you hope to get anything done that way? WE need some documentation that your platform meet the gov rules, regulations, procedures and safety considerations not to mention you have not contributed to the political campaign of some high up politician...... Been there do RED TAPE for living!

Us in Gov sometimes talk the big Talk but sadly work as slow as possible towards making progress! Like not showing up at the meeting that was planned and announced with plenty of time I am sure.
Sorry to hear about your frustrating problem.

Meeting never happened today. Reps from 2 of the 4 agencies never showed. I'm disgusted.

Well, they did it again. We were scheduled to install the platform today. I was all packed and ready to go when the naturalist from the park called to inform me that they couldn't get the Fish and Boat commission to bring a boat. (No boat? That leaves them with just fish!)

They either need to rethink this whole project, or find a tree that is accessible by land.

I cut the lawn in the a.m. and then went climbing anyway. Today's weather was b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l for climbing. Mid to upper 60's, bright sunshine, and no wind.

We were able to get all of our ducks in a row today. Well, almost. We removed one agency (PA fish and Boat Commission) from the mix and used the park's lifeguard boat instead. Hey, they aren't using it. No lifeguards in PA State Parks this summer, but that's another story all together.

Long story short, we were able to access the spot and get the Osprey platform installed. It's about 40 feet up, atop a nice Fagus grandifolia (I think). The tree is on a very steep bank, putting the platform about 75-80 feet above the water. The bank is right off the water, and is so steep, I had to \"clip in\" using fliplines from tree to tree to get up. I pulled a tagline with me, and tied it off at the top, so the others could follow.

The climb went well. State forestry guy climbed and rigged overhead. I assembled the platform and rigged at the bottom. No fanfare, no problems, and...no photos . I left my camera in the car. Sorry.

Now all we need are Osprey!

Well, Now you have to go back and take pictures of your good work! so that you can brag about here!