Wildlife Wednesdays Presents: Operation Osprey
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline in Richmond offers beautiful bay vistas and ample opportunities to view nature. One opportunity to view nature from the shoreline is an osprey nest on an old pier pylon east of the Point Pinole fishing pier. On July 3, a Park District wildlife volunteer who regularly checks the nest noted that there were two young ospreys in the nest who were near “fledging” or readying to practice flying. Ospreys fledge at about eight weeks of age. Right before fledging, they spend a lot of time “helicoptering” up and down, lifting a few feet off the nest in the wind but not leaving it, to practice and build their strength.
On July 5, a sharp-eyed shoreline hiker (coincidentally a Park District stewardship staff member) spotted an osprey entangled in fishing line and dangling upside down from the nest. Immediate calls and emails to Park District stewardship, parks, and operations staff launched a rapid recovery mission. A boat crewed by park staff from Point Pinole and Miller/Knox and Wildlife Program Manager Doug Bell headed for the osprey nest at high tide. Conditions were favorable, and within four hours of the initial calls, the entangled bird was secured and on its way to Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital in Walnut Creek.
The osprey underwent a thorough examination and treatment at Lindsay Wildlife Hospital and placed in an aviary for recuperation and recovery. The exam revealed only minor injuries and determined that it was a nestling, roughly the age of fledging. The team knew that the young osprey would need to be returned to its nest as soon as possible. Due to the rapid turnaround time, the osprey was not banded, but hospital staff painted the talons of the osprey pink so it would be recognizable back in the wild.
On July 8, Park District wildlife biologists prepared the osprey for transportation from the hospital. At the Rodeo Marina, they were joined by Park District rangers and staff, and together they braved wind and choppy water on their way back to the pier. They spotted an adult and a fledgling take off from the nest, a good sign that the family was still together. After some tricky maneuvering and challenges securing a ladder to the pier by the boat crew, Doug climbed the ladder as far as possible, unhooded the osprey, and placed it on the nest. He held its legs firmly to keep it from being blown off into the water, letting go once the bird relaxed. Down the ladder he went, relieved that the bird stayed on the nest. Before the boat was barely away, an adult osprey flew down to the nest and landed next to the nestling osprey, who soon after began feeding on a fish.
Thanks to the action of Park District staff, volunteers, and partner agencies, the young osprey was returned to its nest quickly and in good shape. The next day it was seen helicoptering from the nest, getting ready to really fledge.
This story serves as a reminder to always dispose of fishing line in the appropriate containers and never discard it in the environment. Prevent harm to wildlife and keep their habitat safe and clean!
Special thanks to Park District stewardship staff for their expertise in handling a potential wildlife crisis, to Point Pinole and Miller/Knox ranger staff for providing boat transportation and assisting in the recovery, to volunteer Tony Brake for his dedication to wildlife monitoring and for sharing his videos, and to Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital staff for their expert care of the osprey.
