Osprey Conservation

Ospreys are back from the brink! For more than 30 years, the Group has been monitoring the East End osprey population.

Osprey Cams
Get a bird's eye view of ospreys and their chicks during nesting season from March to September in Bridgehampton, New York & Oyster Bay, New York.

Current Efforts

With the help of extraordinary volunteers, we collect data on more than 400 breeding sites every three years and report that information to New York State, an effort that has been critical to restoring the osprey population. As their numbers have increased, we are delighted to see more birds nesting in trees, a spectacular benchmark in the recovery of the species!

However, overdevelopment and loss of habitat have resulted in more birds building nests on utility poles, which is extremely dangerous and has resulted in chicks and adults getting electrocuted. To address this problem, the Group teamed up with the utility company PSEG, who has become an integral conservation partner. The Group identifies potentially hazardous utility poles and PSEG installs v-guards and other nesting deterrents. The birds are also nesting on docks, chimneys, and other structures. If you have questions about ospreys in your neighborhood, find answers in the FAQ section below.

Osprey FAQ

• How is the Group currently protecting ospreys?

  With the recovery in full swing, many ospreys build nests on utility poles with electric wires, placing them and their chicks in danger of electrocution. To reduce this risk, the Group partners with the utility company PSEG Long Island to identify, map, and install hundreds of nest deterrents on the most dangerous poles and equipment. These efforts help protect the birds and allow for safe and proper utility maintenance.

  A critical part of our osprey conservation work is to prevent overdevelopment on the East End and to restore critical habitats. For decades the Group has been advocating for land preservation and water quality protection and educating adults and children on the importance of stewardship.

• Do ospreys only nest on manmade platforms?

  No. Historically they nested in trees, on offshore rocks, or right on the beach. When the osprey population sunk to just 75 pairs in the early 1970s, the Group and other organizations installed platforms in prime nesting locations to protect the birds from predators and increase breeding success rates. Today, we see more ospreys returning to natural nesting sites.

• Can I install an osprey platform on my property?

  Maybe. If your property has suitable habitat for an osprey platform, we strongly suggest using a licensed, insured contractor and adhering to local building requirements. To determine if you have a suitable habitat to install a platform, contact the Group at info@thegroup.org.

• Can I remove an osprey nest from my property?

  You cannot remove an osprey nest without approval by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC). Federal and state laws protect ospreys and their nests from disturbance and/or disruption during the breeding season, which is March 15 to September 1. Outside of the breeding season, the NYS DEC can authorize the removal of a nest if its location is a nuisance or creates a danger to the home. For details, contact the NYS DEC Regional Office at (631) 444-0200.

• I'm concerned about an osprey nest that is damaged or has fallen. What should I do?

  Osprey nests may sustain considerable damage after a storm or deteriorate over time, but the birds are skilled carpenters and can usually secure or rebuild their nest. Not all platforms will endure, just as natural nest sites change over time.

• Does the Group install nesting platforms?

  No. We have shifted our conservation strategies from species recovery to reducing potential human-osprey conflicts through education and outreach. The Group also continues to monitor the local population and protect nesting habitats critical to the birds’ survival.

• Can I relocate a nest on my property to a nearby platform?

  Possibly. The nearby platform must be in an appropriate nesting location and you must get approval from the NYS DEC. See back panel for contact information.

• I'm concerned about an osprey pole/platform that is leaning. What should I do?

  If you see a leaning or otherwise unstable osprey platform/pole, the Group may be able to offer advice. Contact us at info@thegroup.org.

• If I see an osprey entangled in debris or in visible distress, what should I do?

  Ospreys can get entangled in fishing line or other marine debris that can cause serious injury or death. If you know of a local wildlife rehabilitator, contact them immediately. If not, call the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center Hotline at (631) 728-9453.

• Will bald eagles on Long Island affect the osprey population?

  In recent years, the number of bald eagle breeding pairs has increased here, but there are substantially more osprey pairs. While the two species undoubtedly compete for food and nesting locations, they are known to coexist successfully in other areas. Going forward, our monitoring efforts will help determine if bald eagles are having any effect on the ospreys.

• How can I prevent ospreys from nesting on my chimney, dock, or other structures that may be dangerous to the birds and/or create a nuisance?

  Ospreys can be tenacious once they find a nesting site they like. It can be extremely difficult to deter the birds from nesting, even if the location is dangerous. The best strategy is to make the nesting site unattractive or difficult to build on. Here are some ideas that have worked:

  Flags: Use colorful flags or windsocks to create movement around the potential nesting site.

  Physical Deterrents: Create a slippery, steep, or uneven surface around the nesting site. Plastic cones, piling covers, uneven crates, and slippery plastic pails all make for good deterrents. Don’t use spikes that typically deter pigeons from nesting as they can serve as a good foundation for osprey nests.

  Decoys: Success rates vary, but a bald eagle decoy can be effective in deterring an osprey from nesting. Other decoys such as a fox, coyote, red-tailed hawk, and owl may also work. Decoys should be installed before March 15, when the breeding season begins.

• Do ospreys still need constructed platforms to survive?

  Not presently. Thanks to the exceptional conservation efforts of dedicated individuals and organizations, osprey populations have increased steadily. In fact, many birds are returning to natural nest sites.

History of the Osprey on Long Island

In the early 1970s, ospreys were on the brink of extinction due to the use of DDT. This disastrous pesticide caused the thinning of eggshells, which led to unsuccessful breeding attempts and the devastation of populations across the globe. DDT was banned in the United States in 1970, but it took years for ecosystems to fully recover. In 1976 the species was listed as “Endangered” in New York. Eventually, they were downgraded to “Threatened” in 1983 and then “Special Concern” in 1999.

Since the dawn of this catastrophe, the Group and many other organizations worked tirelessly to bring these iconic birds back to the East End. Early efforts consisted of installing osprey poles in suitable breeding habitats and monitoring the population. With the recovery in full swing, we continue to monitor the birds and have ramped up efforts on habitat conservation, deterring birds from nesting on utility poles, and public awareness.

Photo: Adam Bundy