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How to Create an Osprey Nest

Ospreys are large, black and white fish-eating hawks found along coasts, bays and lakes from the Gulf of Mexico to Hudson's Bay. Because of harmful pesticides and polluted waterways, osprey populations were in decline during the 1950's and 60's. Thanks to environmentalists, they made a comeback during the turn of the century. The birds prefer to nest in tall trees near water, but may choose electrical towers, if no other options exist. You can build an osprey nesting platform to prevent nearby birds from nesting on hazardous structures.

Things You'll Need

Hammer
Nails
Four 2-by-4 cedar boards, 3 feet long
Staple gun
Staples
One 2 by 6 cedar board, 4 feet long
One wire link fence, 3 feet square
4 galvanized nails, 6 inches long
One cedar pole, 20 feet long
Two 2 by 4 cedar boards, 6 feet long
1 sheet of aluminum, 3 feet square
Power auger
Rock drill
Shovel
Cement

Instructions

- 1
  Nail the four 3-foot boards together to make a 3-foot square frame. This frame will contain the osprey's nest.
- 2
  Place the wire link fence over the frame opening on one side and staple it in place.
- 3
  Place the 2-by-6 foot cedar board horizontally across the center of the frame, on top of the wire link fence. Nail the board in place. You have now made the nest box.
- 4
  Center the nest box over the top of the cedar pole with the fenced side on the bottom. Nail the box to the pole with four 6-inch galvanized nails.
- 5
  Place a 6-foot board diagonally with the 2-inch side facing out. One side of this board should touch the board under the nest box, and the other side should touch the center of the cedar pole. There should be an equal amount of free space on each end of the board. Nail the board in place to the pole and the board under the nest box. Repeat this process with the other cedar board on the other side of the pole. You should end up with two braces making an X-shape.
- 6
  Wrap the aluminum sheet around the pole right under the braces and nail it in place; this creates a raccoon baffle.
- 7
  Dig a 6-foot deep hole at the nesting site. If soil is too rocky or hard for a shovel, use a power auger or rock drill to make the hole.
- 8
  Stand the pole up inside the hole and pour cement around it to hold it in place.
- 9
  Add a few local sticks to the platform to invite ospreys to build nests.

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