If you want an osprey pair to nest near you, your best bet is to build an osprey platform. Find out the requirements to attract osprey.
Osprey Nesting Platform Size Requirements
“I read that bald eagles and ospreys build nests on a platform or in a tree. I have about 50 acres of flat, rolling hilly land. What size should the platform be?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Van Kalinoski of Dent, Minnesota.
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “Your habitat sounds outstanding, and if you have a large body of water nearby, you may be able to attract ospreys with a nesting platform. (Bald eagles sometimes use platforms for nesting, but usually prefer large trees.) For ospreys, the height can vary, but the platform should be 3 feet across, and the pole should be able to support 300 pounds. Place it as close to water as possible.
Plans recommended by the Center for Conservation Biology’s Osprey Watch say the most attractive nest sites include a nearby perch, such as a 2×4 that rises 2 to 3 feet higher on both sides of the nest platform.”
Visit the website osprey-watch.org for more details, plans and instructions.
Learn how to attract owls to nest in your backyard.
What Do Osprey Nests Look Like?
Bald eagles and ospreys are among several bird species that construct their huge, somewhat flat and wide nests on platforms and in tall, sturdy trees. The birds interweave large sticks, moss and grass to create these nests.
An osprey lays one to four dark, blotchy eggs, which it incubates for approximately five weeks.
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About the Experts
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman are the official bird experts for Birds & Blooms. They are the creators of the Kaufman Field Guide series and they lead birding trips all over the world.
