Natural Resources - Osprey Nesting Platforms

The Canal staff has constructed and installed five Osprey nesting platforms with volunteer help from Ameri-Corps (Cape Cod) and the Cape Cod and Island Council, Boy Scouts of America. The Ameri-Corps volunteers erected nesting platforms on utility poles at Stony Point Dike, Mashnee Island, Dykes Creek and most recently at Scusset Marsh. The Boy Scouts of America constructed and installed a single nesting pole in Scusset Marsh as an Eagle Scout Project.
The purpose of the artificial platforms is to encourage nesting opportunities for Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) to reproduce in the canal's protected environment while providing viewing opportunities as part of the Watchable Wildlife Program.

The platforms may take as long as five years to be occupied by a pair of nesting osprey. This past summer however, the Stony Point nesting site was occupied within a few months after installation and a nesting pair of Osprey, resulted in a single fledged Osprey chick. Click on the following website to learn more about the fish hawk. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov.