
Scout Ricky Grootveld is proud of the Osprey nesting platofrm he has built. Photo by Jim Sousa
Ricky Grootveld, 16 years old and a Lely High School junior, was “happy and excited” to see the hole drilled and the 45-foor pole erected by LCEC, and to see his design and his effort come to fruition. He said he has always worked side by side with his Dad and that is how he knew how to go about constructing the platform. With the help of three other boy scouts, including Trevor Conte, who was with Ricky when the pole went up, Ricky built the nesting platform in his family’s garage. The whole troop of Scouts will help in the planting of rare palms.
Ricky is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys camping, hiking

Ricky Grootveld is helped by fellow Scout Trevor Conte to prepare the Osprey nesting platform. Photo by Jim Sousa

The 45-foot pole is made of pressure-treated wood. Photo by Jim Sousa
The project area is located at the southern end of the Mackle Park Lake on the southeast corner of the lake. American Osprey feed regularly on the fish in Mackle Park, although no nests have been observed in this park in recent history. In the vicinity of Marco Island, ospreys typically nest on the highest point near a water body – many nests are seen in waterways on navigational signs, in tall Norfolk Pines in residential areas and, occasionally, on antennas or towers. Since the ospreys are present regularly at Mackle Park, creating this artificial nesting habitat will encourage an osprey pair to build a nest

LCEC drills to make the hole for the 45-foot electrical pole. Photo by Jim Sousa
LCEC has long promoted the installment of artificial nesting platforms for the purpose of moving the birds away from their power poles and lines. Since power poles are usually the highest structure in urban areas, ospreys frequently build atop the dangerous poles and wires. Mortality to ospreys from power lines occurs and also causes power outages and other maintenance issues. Over the years, creating a compatible platform away from power lines has lessened osprey deaths due to flight into wires. It is a win-win situation for the protected osprey and the maintenance of the electric lines.
For more information of this project or if you are interested in creating an osprey platform, please contact Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist, City of Marco Island at 239-389-5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com
Hoping to build an osprey nest in Colorado