Community Corner

Osprey Platform Raised At Hammo, Thanks To Volunteers

While many of the rest of us were snuggled inside against the cold weather, a group of volunteers bundled up and headed out to Hammonasset to set up a new Osprey platform this past weekend to help lure yet another family of the sea hawks here.

 

By Shannon Schiesser

Menunkatuck Audubon Society man-made osprey platforms are important to the breeding success of ospreys because of the loss of natural nesting habitat, primarily due to development.The osprey has made a successful comeback since its near-demise from development and chemicals such as DDT, which severely hindered reproduction of these magnificent creatures.

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Menunkatuck Audubon Society has organized and coordinated the design, building, and installation of 5 osprey platforms at Hammonasset Beach State Park, and 1 at the Guilford Salt Marsh Sanctuary, which is a National Audubon Sanctuary on the West River bordering Guilford and Madison.

The platform was designed by John Picard, co-vice president and conservation chair of Menunkatuck Audubon Society, when in 2009 he noticed that the several osprey platforms at Hammonassset Beach State Park were falling into a state of disrepair. The Menunkatuck Board of Directors agreed that a replacement project should be started.

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Volunteers from many area towns contributing

Through John's extensive conservation work, others from surrounding communities such as Clinton and Guilford, have taken an interest in helping with Menunkatuck projects.  Recently, the building plans for the platform were reproduced in a CAD format by volunteer Stephen Bukowsky, and are now available on the Menunkatuck website (scroll down to Osprey Platform Plans), and are posted with this article in PDF format.

Sara Rockwell, a Menunkatuck and Friends of Hammonasset member, generously donated the funds to build this latest/5th platform at Hammonasset, and Mike Houde, President of the Clinton Land Conservation Trust, donated his time and talents to build the platform. 

Menunkatuck has been supported in its efforts through a wonderful collaboration with other groups and individuals to help make good things happen on a grand scale. Friends of Hammonasset and Menunkatuck collaborate frequently on projects involving Hammonasset Beach State Park, and have brought some wonderful improvements to the Park.

Volunteers brave cold weather to erect platform

On Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 , approximately 28 volunteers came to help on that VERY cold morning, with a wind chill factor making temperatures feel like they were about 0 degrees. the group included volunteers from Menunkatuck Audubon, Friends of Hammonasset, and A Place Called Hope - a local raptor-rehabilitation group in Killingworth, CT.

The other platforms were also made possible by grants and by the willingness and generosity of others.

Each platform becomes home to one pair of nesting osprey.  Ospreys return to Connecticut in mid-March, usually 2-3 chicks are born in May, which fledge in July, and ospreys begin their journey south around the the end of September.

Platforms used by Osprey families

Once the osprey chicks have fledged, they do stay with the parents for up to 2 months, often until it is time to migrate south.

All of the platforms installed by Menunkatuck have been used by ospreys every year since their installation, which demonstrates that, if you build a platform in the right location, they will come.

In addition to sticks, ospreys will use other materials in their nests, including "trash," which often includes plastic bags, string, and monofilament line (fishing line). Fishing line can be exceptionally dangerous to the osprey (and to all animals), as they can easily become entangled in the line causing a slow, painful loss of limbs and eventual death.

Steps taken to reduce dangers posted by fishing and kite line

Fishing line, kite string, etc., should always be disposed of responsibly; and, to that end, and Menunkatuck has installed fishing line receptacles/recycling bins in several locations along the shoreline including 5 at Hammonasset, also at Lake Quannipaug, Guilford Marina, Guilford boat launch. There is good information on this subject on the menunkatuck.org website.

Menunkatuck Audubon is a local Chapter of the National Audubon Society and Audubon Connecticut. It is a very active chapter, with a strong focus in environmental conservation, advocacy, and outreach.

Some of Menunkatuck's projects include:

  • providing and monitoring nesting habitat for a variety of birds, including purple martin colonies, tree swallows, and ospreys;
  • coordinating invasive plants removal and native planting restoration projects at Hammonasset BSP, Guilford Salt Marsh Sanctuary, and other locations;
  • "adoption" of King-Robinson School in New Haven, providing environmental experiences and learning opportunities to city students, some of whom have never had the opportunity to experience nature first-hand. Please feel free to see Menukatuck's website for further information at: www.menunkatuck.org


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