Heroes With Hearts Of Gold Save Fallen Osprey Nest

MATTITUCK, NY — Some Mattituck osprey are likely feeling pretty happy to have their home back.

On Tuesday, underneath brilliant blue skies, a group of seven men gathered in the area near the New York State boat ramp at Mattituck Inlet. Wearing boots and carrying shovels and wood, they worked together to erect a fallen osprey nest and platform that had toppled over due to the winter's weather conditions.

Their friend Daniel Boyle, they said, "put out the call" and asked volunteers to meet Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. — and, in short order, they got the job done.

Onhand were volunteers including Aaron Virgin of the Group for the East End — who organized the mission to help — as well as Boyle, Gus Montgomery, Dan Lanham, Terry Montgomery, Barry Mitchum, and Keith Klein.

Boyle said last week, Tim Monahan put a photo of the leaning nest on social media, explaining that help was needed.

"I'm a lifelong nature enthusiast, so I thought that, having over 900 friends on my Facebook, someone would know who to contact," Boyle said, adding that he shared Monahan's photo on his page and received many comments. Next, he said, he got in touch with a friend at the Audubon Society who observes nests; who then passed the word forward. Soon, Boyle and Virgin spoke, Virgin observed the nest, and the pair made plans to meet Tuesday.

"I assume it was just a daisy chain of caring East End contacts that got it done," Boyle said. "I just merely passed the word; they volunteered to help."

The men were humble, focused on the work at hand, digging holes and securing the platform for the osprey — getting the job done. Just because it was the right thing to do. For the osprey, and for the North Fork community.