An observation camera was recently installed above an osprey nest platform, giving citizens a bird’s eye view of the bird of prey.
The camera project was a collaborative effort by Danville Parks and Recreation, Danville Utilities and the City of Danville Department of IT as an educational opportunity for the community. The camera units do not interfere with the birds in any way and often go unnoticed.
“We are committed to the conservation of our river, our region and all of the creatures who call both home,” Sgrinia said. “Observation is the first step to educating ourselves on the wonderful resources that surround us.”
The platform, located behind Utilities’ facility, was recently installed by the Utilities department as an approved method of relocating birds who have taken up residence on power poles. Another nest can be seen atop the power tower directly in front of the Danville Family YMCA.
“We get a lot of calls from citizens who see the osprey believing they have seen an eagle,” Sgrinia said. “While an occasional eagle is seen along our river, we have more ospreys to call Danville home. This camera is a view into their world.”
According to National Geographic, ospreys can live up to 30 years and are one of the most common birds of prey and can be found on every continent. In North America, the population became endangered in the 1950s due to chemical pollutants but has since rebounded over the last few decades.
Ospreys migrate annually, leaving in October and returning in March. During the nesting season, the birds can lay between one and four eggs and the incubation period can last up to a month and a half.
Their nests start relatively small but can grow up to 10-13 feet deep and three to six feet in diameter, depending on where it is perched as the birds add on each nesting season.
For more information on osprey or to observe the birds, visit www.PlayDanvilleVA.com and click on the link on the home page.
