Osprey whisperers: Charlottetown students hope to attract the majestic birds to a new home
Students at Charlottetown Rural High School hope a new platform high atop a pole will land them closer views of some large birds of prey.
The new osprey platform was installed on a corner of the school property neighbouring Hermitage Creek, which flows into nearby Ellen's Creek.
"This particular location is close to the wetlands," said environmental science teacher Rob Redmond.
"It will be high enough, hopefully, that osprey will look at it as a possible nesting site."
Redmond said the idea came from a former teacher who wondered why the school didn't have an osprey pole, considering Charlottetown Rural's mascot is an osprey, which is also called a raider.
A view of the school's new osprey platform from a drone. The project received financial support from Ducks Unlimited. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)
As a next step, Redmond said they would like to put a camera on the nest so they can watch the osprey if they choose the nest.
"For me, it's [students] appreciating what's around them and the fact that they've created a little bit of habitat for something — that one missing piece might be its location to nest," Redmond said.
"And the fact that they've done something that's worthwhile for nature and for their school, as well."
'Great location'
Grade 11 student Tihan Stapleton helped to build the osprey platform.
"It's just a box with mesh on the bottom, and we're going to throw some sticks in there to try to encourage some ospreys to come and nest," Stapleton said.
"It's a certain height off the ground, which we've done studies about where ospreys like to nest, and it should work."
Charlottetown Rural High School students Tihan Stapleton, left, and Lydia Doyle stand under the new osprey platform at their school. (Aaron Adetuyi/CBC)
The osprey platform is also visible from North River Road, where vehicles and pedestrians will be able to keep an eye on the large birds.
"It's a great location. There's water nearby, great scenery and hopefully they'll be able to fish right over in North River. We've seen osprey here before, so hopefully they'll come nest," Stapleton said.
"Usually by this time, the ospreys are already nesting. So if not this year, then next year, we hope," Stapleton said.
"I mean, it's all just a game of luck. It's just what the ospreys want and where they think the food is."
Grade 12 student Lydia Doyle said she's excited to get to see the school's mascot up close, especially if the camera can be installed on the nest.
"That would be really exciting because, knowing my teacher, he would definitely have the live footage constantly rolling in our classroom," Doyle said. "So we could keep an eye on what's going on in the nest, and keep an eye on our osprey."
Nature up close
Gulf Shore Consolidated School in North Rustico has had an osprey platform for years.
The co-ordinator of the watershed group in that community said it's a great opportunity for students and staff to watch the birds, which migrate south for the winter and return to P.E.I. in the spring.
Harriet Dreise, co-ordinator for the Hunter-Clyde Watershed Group, says the osprey platform at Gulf Shore Consolidated School in North Rustico, P.E.I., is a great learning opportunity for students. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)
"I think it's really exciting for the kids, and it's good for them to see nature relatively up close and in their everyday life," said Harriet Driese of the Hunter-Clyde Watershed Group.
"[They can] see the life cycle from the ospreys returning in the spring, laying their eggs and hatching, and then the young leaving the nest."
Driese said there are three osprey platforms in the the watershed around North Rustico providing habitat for the large raptors, which are also the provincial bird of Nova Scotia.
"Osprey tend to perch and nest on tree tops, especially tall ones," Driese said.
"If we don't have those for them, then they don't have places to nest, and so they'll go and seek other opportunities."
An osprey lands on the platform at North Rustico Harbour. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)
"Providing safe opportunities like this is really beneficial to them," Driese added.
"It provides entertainment for us ... which is just an added perk."
