Can you help Lucy and Kenny save their two remaining chicks?
22 May 2024
In 2023, one chick died of siblicide at Lake Murray and the other two were taken by the GHO. The owners of the property tried music and mannequins and that did not work. The evening they did not put out lights, the GHO came.
They were informed by me – and probably others – of the success at Cowlitz of the metal grates. Simple fish grates installed on opposite sides of the osprey platform have prevented predation at Cowlitz PUD. They will happily explain how to do this to anyone to protect their osprey nests. Simple, quick, economical solution.
It is too late this year. They should have installed these last year. To keep the GHO from killing the remaining two osplets at Lake Murray we need lights. Big lights shining on the nest. They will not bother Lucy but they will keep that GHO away.
Sign in to lakemurrayospreys.com Fill the inbox. Demand lights be put up to protect the remaining babies of Kenny and Lucy. They have worked too hard this year to lose their family.
I went to the UK as a Commonwealth Scholar in 1990 and received my PhD from the University of Leicester in 1993. After three decades of university teaching, I retired to devote my time to the study of raptor behaviour. I am particularly interested in Ospreys and am working on a long term project on third hatch survival and siblicide in these raptors. My blog is a result of a fascination with my local wildlife and the desire to encourage others to love and care for birds! I live on the Canadian Prairies and prior to the pandemic travelled a lot. I am questioning the use of aviation fuel at the moment as we all strive to help our planet. My early research was in politics and art including British public statues exported to Southeast Asia and Vietnam Resistors that contributed much to Canadian ceramics. Books and articles were published on those subjects over a period of 3 decades. Now I am working on books for children so they can learn about the challenges our raptors face.
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I have followed this nest for a while, and I’m devastated by the loss of gallant, brave, Little to a GHO. This event was foretold – must we now wait and watch the other two being taken? There is such a simple solution – install fish grates. You could do it in the off-season, ready for next year. You know the GHO will be back, it’s had success here year on year. I’m a nest cam monitor for Woodland Trust in Scotland for the Loch Arkaig Ospreys, and although Woodland Trust have a hands-off policy, even they have installed Pine Marten baffles. As they say, they understand the Pine Martens need to eat, but they can have all the other trees in the forest, just not these two where the Ospreys nest.
Please – please reconsider, and install some simple safety measures to prevent tragedy for this Osprey family yet again. Here’s the link to the sad and totally forecast and preventable demise of Little: https://youtu.be/ipgGQ4QBHw4
Thank you. I had talked to the woman who owns the property many times after the GHO took the chicks last year. They sure need to do something. I hope the strobes work! I will find him. TY.
Thank you Gill. That is so appreciated. They said they are putting out strobe lights and music. I hope that the lights are positioned so they work but let’s press for economical fish grates attached to the sides!
done ! Aren’t there great minds out there who can come up with a solution that benefits the owls & the Ospreys / eagles etc..We know that the SWFL Eagles & owl nests are a few feet away from each other…I don’t know if that’s the same for the Lake Murray Ospreys… But something should be done for all nests that have owl attacks, and yet have it safe for the owls as well..
Precisely. Lake Murray will try the strobe lights. I hope they work but we do know the economical fish grates at Cowlitz PUD did the job – everyone that has an owl problem should install them. Please help by spreading the word.
lakemurrayosprey.com
This is what I sent Lake Murray via their contact form
( https://www.lakemurrayosprey.com/contact/ )
I have followed this nest for a while, and I’m devastated by the loss of gallant, brave, Little to a GHO. This event was foretold – must we now wait and watch the other two being taken? There is such a simple solution – install fish grates. You could do it in the off-season, ready for next year. You know the GHO will be back, it’s had success here year on year. I’m a nest cam monitor for Woodland Trust in Scotland for the Loch Arkaig Ospreys, and although Woodland Trust have a hands-off policy, even they have installed Pine Marten baffles. As they say, they understand the Pine Martens need to eat, but they can have all the other trees in the forest, just not these two where the Ospreys nest.
Please – please reconsider, and install some simple safety measures to prevent tragedy for this Osprey family yet again. Here’s the link to the sad and totally forecast and preventable demise of Little: https://youtu.be/ipgGQ4QBHw4
Thank you
Geemeff
Thank you so much. They have stated that will put up strobe lights and music. Red strobes are known to work if placed correctly. I live in hope.
Contact Ed murray…he used to be in charge of a nest at lake Murray
Ed has a Facebook page
There is also another person…jim
Thank you. I had talked to the woman who owns the property many times after the GHO took the chicks last year. They sure need to do something. I hope the strobes work! I will find him. TY.
Hello Mrs Mary Ann
It comes up but I can’t find the place to write it. They need the lights very quick indeed!
Thanks for this update.
lakemurrayospreys.com They have their own chat and website with the camera running live.
Or here:
( https://www.lakemurrayosprey.com/contact/
You left me compelled to contact Lake Murray. Let’s hope they take action.
Thank you Gill. That is so appreciated. They said they are putting out strobe lights and music. I hope that the lights are positioned so they work but let’s press for economical fish grates attached to the sides!
done ! Aren’t there great minds out there who can come up with a solution that benefits the owls & the Ospreys / eagles etc..We know that the SWFL Eagles & owl nests are a few feet away from each other…I don’t know if that’s the same for the Lake Murray Ospreys… But something should be done for all nests that have owl attacks, and yet have it safe for the owls as well..
Precisely. Lake Murray will try the strobe lights. I hope they work but we do know the economical fish grates at Cowlitz PUD did the job – everyone that has an owl problem should install them. Please help by spreading the word.