Osprey nest removed from traffic cam location near Bay Bridge

[cpzilliacus]

WTOP Radio: Osprey nest removed from traffic cam location near [Chesapeake] Bay Bridge

A pair of federally protected birds built a home in front of a Maryland highway camera along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, but efforts to relocate their nest Friday morning led to its destruction.

Staff at the Maryland Transportation Authority first noticed an osprey nest growing up around the camera about a week ago, says John Sales, spokesman for the agency, which operates the bridge.

The nest sat atop a camera pole above the toll plaza facing the eastern span, Sales says.

[Jardine]

Um, I thought the rules were pretty clear that the road was to be closed until the hatchlings had reached adulthood and flown away.

[Alps]

There are no hatchlings. They moved an eggless nest.

[Jardine]

GASP!

Even worse!

[on_wisconsin]

Why is this a thread??

[Alps]

Why is this a thread??

Actually, I'm not even sure it's off-topic. I'll keep it here though. It's pretty neat, I read about it on my lunch break before even seeing it here.

[JMoses24]

I actually went on through to the live camera link...and tuned in just in time to see the bird fly away from the camera. So yeah, it's dutifully rebuilding that nest.


iPod touch 5G

[JMoses24]

Here's a screencap taken minutes ago. All you can see is bird.



iPod touch 5G

[cpzilliacus]

I actually went on through to the live camera link...and tuned in just in time to see the bird fly away from the camera. So yeah, it's dutifully rebuilding that nest.

WTOP has dutifully reported that the ospreys are back (maybe they like to be on TV?).

EDIT:  Are the birds trying to show the powers-that-be in Maryland that it is possible to build something even when there is opposition to their plans?

You can see the video feed here and decide for yourself: http://chart.state.md.us/video/video.php?feed=4900c5b02e84001c00503336c4235c0a

[xcellntbuy]

They need to leave the beautiful birds alone.

[hotdogPi]

Reroute the highway around the birds.

[wxfree]

Reroute the highway around the birds.

Ah, yes, the Bugs Bunny Highway/Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Plan, good suggestion.

[cpzilliacus]

IMO, the MdTA needs to consider putting in a platform above the camera (which should not be all that expensive or difficult to fabricate) if the birds continue to try and build a nest at this location).

WTOP: Ospreys' nest blocking traffic camera destroyed for second time

[xcellntbuy]

They need to put up a platform and leave the beautiful birds alone and in peace.  Did anyone think of moving the camera, or installing another camera elsewhere if that is at all possible?

The birds attack the camera because they see a reflection in the lens and their instinct is that the reflection is another osprey invading their territory and home.

[Alps]

Reroute the highway around the birds.

Nah, they're not interfering with the highway. All MdSHA has to do is dismantle its ITS infrastructure.

(Fun fact: One of the only ways that you can say "its ITS" and get away with it grammatically.)

[Scott5114]

To be serious, though, how hard would it be to relocate the camera to a location that won't offend the ospreys?

[xcellntbuy]

To be serious, though, how hard would it be to relocate the camera to a location that won't offend the ospreys?

Makes way too much sense.

[Alps]

To be serious, though, how hard would it be to relocate the camera to a location that won't offend the ospreys?

Why would they not just build at the new location? DOT is providing them a high, safe perch with a great view. The only way to keep ospreys off is to do some sort of anti-pigeon fencing like people have on windows in NYC.

[cpzilliacus]

Nah, they're not interfering with the highway. All MdSHA MdTA has to do is dismantle its ITS infrastructure.

(Fun fact: One of the only ways that you can say "its ITS" and get away with it grammatically.)

FTFY.  MdTA maintains the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and approaches. 

[cpzilliacus]

To be serious, though, how hard would it be to relocate the camera to a location that won't offend the ospreys?

Why would they not just build at the new location? DOT is providing them a high, safe perch with a great view. The only way to keep ospreys off is to do some sort of anti-pigeon fencing like people have on windows in NYC.

It was suggested in the Baltimore Sun today that if the MdTA builds a platform on a tall pole near the camera and puts the branches that the birds were bringing to the camera gantry on that platform, then the birds may get the message - and they should be able to happily raise their family without molesting the camera.

There may be a way to end the standoff, though, to the satisfaction of bird lovers and traffic-watchers alike. Craig Koppie, a federal wildlife biologist, visited the Bay Bridge Tuesday and said he advised state officials to try luring the nest builders away by erecting another elevated platform nearby, baited with some of the material removed earlier from in front of the camera.

"I told them just to put a handful of sticks [on it] that were dropped underneath," he said, predicting that the birds "will go to it quite quickly. I'm sure that the osprey will be happy."

[jeffandnicole]

It's a helluva lot easier to put up a few tempoary cameras in the general area than to try to keep fighting with this bird. He obviously has found his spot, and wants to keep it. Turn the camera off for a while, and use the temporary cameras.

Trying to build another platform will usually result in ignorance of the platform anyway...at least for a year or two.

[1995hoo]

WTOP has a lot of great pictures of the osprey and the nest on their website today:

http://liveblog.wtop.com/Event/Osprey_versus_Maryland_The_nest_battle

I seem to recall that during the construction of the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Capital Beltway there was an issue involving a bald eagle nest. The birds kept coming back each year and building nests closer and closer to the highway on the Maryland side.

[cpzilliacus]

I seem to recall that during the construction of the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Capital Beltway there was an issue involving a bald eagle nest. The birds kept coming back each year and building nests closer and closer to the highway on the Maryland side.

There was also the home-wrecking female eagle that tried to (and apparently did) muscle in on the resident female eagle at the Wilson Bridge, injuring her so badly in a fight that she had to be taken to an eagle hospital for care.

[cpzilliacus]

Seems the ospreys and MdTA have reached a compromise agreement.

Osprey versus Maryland: The nest battle Live - Ospreys return to area, build nest in front of different traffic cam