Osprey Nest Destroyed By Lightning; No New Platform Plans Yet

SOUTHOLD, NY — Residents are worried about osprey in Southold after lightning destroyed their nest recently, killing their babies and leaving them with nowhere to go.

"The parents and babies were there on a Tuesday and on Wednesday the entire nest was gone," resident Laura Helf said.

The lightning caused a fire in the nest on North Bayview Road near Oakwood Drive in Southold, she said, resulting in a heartbreaking ending, with two babies dead, as well as a small bird that had died.

"I went to look at the area and saw the adult male. He appears to be fine," Helf said. "I have heard from someone living nearby the female is alive as well. They were allegedly seen on top of the empty pole."

Helf said she contacted Group for East End who sent a representative, as well as PSEG Long Island, asking for a new platform to be put on the pole. "The couple has nowhere to go and it would be horrible if they got separated at this point," she said.

The male osprey sat in a tree for more than 45 minutes with a partially eaten fish, Helf said. "I think he probably wanted to deliver it to his babies," she said.

After days had passed, Helf said she went to assess the situation. "I was a little disturbed. Nothing has been done. When I spoke to PSEG, the information was being forwarded to the people who work with the osprey platforms," she said. "Well, there is no platform. You can see the osprey have tried to make a nest but there are just small sticks and without a platform. This won't work. I did not see the osprey but did hear one close by."

The babies that had died in the fire were still there, too, and had not been removed, she said; a few days later she reported that they had been cleared away.

The osprey have made valiant attempts to rebuild their nest, Helf said. "This was an established nest and has been there for years. Now, these guys don't have anywhere to live while here."

Helf's friend Mary Terry said she has since seen the osprey sitting on top of the pole.

"They need a platform. PSEG seems to be doing nothing but telling lies," Helf said.

When contacted, Elizabeth Flagler, media representative for PSEG Long Isalnd responded: "PSEG Long Island was made aware of this nest earlier in the season. The nest was active before we could resolve the situation. We added this location to an osprey nest tracker, we have been compiling and planned to move the nest at the end of the nesting season, according to United States Fish and Wildlife Service regulations. In the meantime, I believe the nest was struck by lightning. The location will remain on the list for remediation in the fall. PSEG Long Island has relocated over 24 nests in 2019. We want to help ensure these wonderful birds continue to return to the area year after year while, at the same time, protecting the reliability of the energy grid.”

When told of PSEG's response, Helf was outraged. "Months is crazy! This couple will be separated and they do mate for life. They have been there for years." Her friend, Helf said, saw the osprey sitting on the pole again Tuesday evening. "They are sitting on the few branches they put together. Months is really not acceptable for these poor birds."