Nests

Ospreys will nest on a variety of natural and man-made structures. They require nest sites to be in open surroundings for easy approach, with a wide, sturdy base and safety from ground predators. Ospreys tend to nest near water due to it being an abundant food source. While they can be productive on lights and utility poles, fires and possible electrocution can occur if there are short circuits due to rain or if they touch a wire or a grounded part of a support structure.

Dead and live trees

Lights and utility poles

Other structures

Nesting platforms

Nesting materials

Osprey nests look like bulky piles of sticks and are lined with smaller materials.

Nests are made of branches, sticks, and twigs, and are lined with smaller twigs, grasses, bark, sod, Spanish moss, fish bones, and other material. Sometimes ospreys incorporate human items (ropes, towels, plastic).

Nest size & condition.

Osprey nests range from small to very large in size.

Nests on man-made platforms are relatively small—less than 2.5 feet in diameter and 3–6 inches deep.

Larger nests found in treetops and light poles can have average a nest size of 10–13 feet deep, 3–6 feet in diameter, and 2-7 feet thick.

When visiting a nest, you can tell if its:

Inactive: Nesting material may be sparse and the nest might be smaller in size and/or not getting larger through the season.

Active: Even if incubation has not begun you can often tell a nest is active by looking for the addition of fresh materials.

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