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, consideringCharlottetown Rural's mascot is an osprey, which is also called a raider.

As a next step, Redmond said they would like to put a camera on the nestso they can watch the osprey if they choose the nest.

"For me, it's [students] appreciatingwhat'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 boxwith 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."

The osprey platform is alsovisible 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."

'Appreciate what's around them': P.E.I. high school students build homebase for osprey

6 months ago

Duration 2:40

Charlottetown Rural High School has installed an osprey pole near the North River. Rob Redmond, environmental science teacher, and some of his students explain why it's needed and how they built it.

Grade 12 student Lydia Doyle said she's excited to get to see the school's mascot up close, especiallyif the camera can be installedon 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 Rusticohas 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, whichmigrate south for the winterand return to P.E.I. in the spring.

"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 Drieseof theHunter-Clyde WatershedGroup.

"[They can] see the life cycle from the ospreys returning in the spring, laying their eggsand 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 alsothe 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."

"Providing safe opportunities like this is really beneficial to them," Drieseadded.

"It provides entertainment for us ... which is just an added perk."