Creative Thinking Helps Young Osprey Return Home
A young osprey was among the 339 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Other admissions include a tricolored heron, a limpkin, a burrowing owl, a peninsula cooter and a marsh rabbit.
Bear’s Paw Country Club General Manager Doug Brown and his son, Trevor Brown, brought the young osprey to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital after a Bear’s Paw staff member saw the bird on the ground on the golf course. A significant portion of the nest, and the young osprey, had fallen to the ground during a storm that brought wind and torrential rain.
The osprey chick was uninjured in the fall so staff began to make plans to re-nest the osprey. While the osprey was close to fledging, it hadn’t taken its first flight; hospital staff determined an artificial nest box, fashioned from the bottom of a large dog crate could be attached to the nest tree in order to return the chick to its parents for continued care.
Doug was eager to assist with the re-nesting as was Ian Orlikoff, owner of Signature Tree Care. von Arx Wildlife Hospital staff coordinated with both parties and planned the re-nesting for the following day. The crew from Signature Tree Care attached the crate to the nest tree and used some of the fallen nesting material to line the bottom of the crate. The baby was placed in the crate; a short time later, the female osprey flew in and landed on a nearby branch.
A follow up from Doug brought news that the young osprey has begun to fly and continues to be seen resting on the remnants of the original nest. Both parents are tending to their fledgling as it learns to fish and fend for itself.
Thanks to everyone involved with this rescue and re-nesting. Without the support of members of our community, these re-nestings would not be possible. Ian and the entire staff at Signature Tree Care’s willingness to donate their time and services for the benefit of local wildlife is inspiring.
Special Thanks
Jamison “Jay” Mitchell was working in a gated community and encountered scores of baby bats clinging to a palm frond that had fallen to the ground. Not knowing what to do, he asked several neighbors for help but no one offered assistance or showed much concern for the baby bats. Jay called his girlfriend who was familiar with the von Arx Wildlife Hospital; she called the hospital which set the bat rescue in motion. Not only did Jay ensure the baby bats received the help they needed, he recorded the number of bats rescued as staff gathered each baby off the ground. Hospital staff is incredibly grateful Jay never gave up and found help for the 240 baby Brazilian free-tailed bat pups.
Showing compassion and learning to appreciate the various species of wildlife we are fortunate to share our world with can truly make a positive difference on your life and the lives of local native wildlife. If you have questions or concerns about animal encounters, or if you have found an animal in distress, call the staff at the wildlife hospital. Staff will determine the appropriate course of action needed to ensure your safety and the safety of the animal as well.
Recent Releases
A yellow-billed cuckoo, five eastern cottontails, a striped mud turtle, three red-bellied woodpeckers, seven northern mockingbirds, three common grackles, a mottled duck, two blue jays, three Cooper’s hawks, a boat-tailed grackle, a burrowing owl and an eastern screech owl were released this past week.
Opportunities to Help
There are many ways to remain engaged and support the Conservancy. Become a member, donate and visit our website at www.conservancy.org. Learn about the Conservancy’s work to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.
Joanna Fitzgerald is director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples, Florida 34102. Call 239–262–2273 or see conservancy.org
