Live Osprey Cam Cures Coronavirus Quarantine Boredom

GREENPORT, NY — For those looking to find new ways to pass the time in new coronavirus quarantine, a live stream of a North Fork osprey nest can provide a bird's eye view into every minute, from the moment the eggs are laid to when the new hatchlings are born and introduced to the world.

The live stream was started in 2014 by Suffolk County resident Tommy Aprea and his friend, Tax Reduction Services' founder and president Paul Henry after a pair of ospreys named George and Gracie built a nest on top of an old television tower on Aprea's property.

Wanting to share the intimate access to these animals with the world, Aprea installed a wooden platform on top of the tower and then, set up a video camera so others could share in viewing the nesting couple. He partnered with Henry to create a website, OspreyZone.com, where they could stream the footage live.

To watch the livestream 24/7, click here.

The livestream became incredibly popular, with as many as 30,000 daily visitors at its peak, a release said.

Now, the original osprey George has returned to the nest with a new mate and she is expected to lay eggs any day now, a release from TRS said. The stream will catch every second, including the eggs being laid and hatching and eventually, the osprey caring for and feeding the young hatchlings.

"With many people overwhelmed by the constant drone of upsetting news and looking for new ways to pass the time in quarantine, Osprey Zone offers a welcome escape and is a great way to connect with the outdoors and witness the power of nature," TRS said.

For information on TRS, click here.