By Alyssa Stahr
September is a busy time for migratory birds in the United States, particularly the once-threatened osprey. Cell phone towers need work from time-to-time, and conservationists are stepping in to make sure that both the workers and the birds can be together in harmony.
A recent story on ClarkstonNews.com reported that towers in the areas of Atlas, Brandon and Groveland, MI, are prime real estate for osprey, which nest 250 to 300 feet in the air. Since ospreys in Michigan are on the rise, Julie Oakes, DNR wildlife biologist, told the Clarkston News that each year there are new nests, making for a true wildlife success story.
“We have already exceeded our original goal of 30 active nests by 2020. We have been able to remove ospreys from the threatened species list and restore their numbers in Michigan,” Oakes said.
Since ospreys, sometimes known as “fish-hawks,” love to fish, a cell tower near a body of water is optimal for nesting. This can make tower work tricky for climbers. Sherrie Leman, senior vice president of Jacksonville, FL, based Martin Environmental Solutions Inc., said that ospreys simply like the view from a cell phone tower. Towers allow the birds to scout on high.
“I think because of the conservation efforts that have been put in place, the population has been able to multiply, where in the past there were situations where they weren’t protected as they are now. That’s made a big difference,” she said.
Leman said she’s also seen eagles’ nests on towers, but not quite that high up—usually around 100 to 150 feet, which pose an even bigger problem for climbers. And, unlike osprey, an eagle will keep adding to the nest over each season, so it can become quite heavy.
There are state-by-state laws in place to protect the birds. “Every state has its own way of dealing with the osprey,” Leman said. “Some states require a permit regardless of what time of year, and some states if it’s not during breeding season, you can do what you need to do.”
In some states, it’s necessary to obtain a permit to remove nests no matter what season, and most states will not issue a permit unless it’s during non-breeding season, which for the osprey generally is September to the end of March.
Leman said that normally a biologist will conduct a monitoring observation to make sure that there are no eggs in the nest. Usually that observation can be done from the ground. “They have a certain behavior when they’re getting ready to lay eggs or turn the eggs, and when they’re young you can usually hear them, so there’s a lot of clues,” Leman said. Once it’s determined that the nest is inactive, or if the birds aren’t exhibiting stressed behavior, there’s no problem moving forward. If it’s during nesting season, the next move depends on the state.
“If they are stressed you have to stop the work. That’s a protection obviously for the climbers and for the birds,” Leman said. “The osprey are kind of interesting. Some of them can be very skittish if they haven’t been exposed to people that much. They can become quite agitated when someone comes into their territory. Other birds are just ‘ho hum so you’re here.’ It’s very dependent on location and the bird’s disposition.”
Climbers always should be aware of where on the tower they are doing their work. If it’s going to be above the nest, they should stop. If the work is approximately 50 feet below a nest, they may be able to work, according to Leman, but the minute a bird starts exhibiting stressed behavior, climbers have to stop.
“The Migratory Bird Treaty Act says that you can’t do anything that’s a form of take. If the bird wants to abandon the nest, that’s a form of take, and they may get stressed enough that they will abandon the nest. You really shouldn’t do anything if you see the birds around the nest or hear what sounds like young. Call in a biologist and have them assess the situation,” Leman said.
Jonathan Schechter, nature education writer, said that osprey know no borders. In a few weeks they’ll be heading south for the Florida Keys, Cuba or into South America. Oakes said that it may be a couple of years before they return.
Four osprey chicks from Michigan were outfitted with “backpack” GPS/GSM telemetry units that will help scientists track the young birds’ daily movements and seasonal migration patterns. Follow the osprey at www.michiganosprey.org.
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