Grand Ole Osprey: Birds of prey return to Southwestern PA
Courtesy of Jim Bonner
Courtesy of Jim Bonner
After years of near-extinction and reintroduction efforts by the state, the osprey, an eagle-like hawk, has returned to the Monongahela River. A nesting pair calls a crane in Speers borough 鈥渉ome.鈥�
An osprey returns to its hatchling near the border of Speers and Charleroi. Jim Bonner captured the shot by digiscoping, or putting a scope to the camera lens to zoom in on the scene. (Photo Courtesy of Jim Bonner)
Courtesy of Jim Bonner
Courtesy of Jim Bonner
A nesting pair of osprey moved into the crane that stands along the Monongahela River as part of the Charleroi Locks and Dam joint project between Brayman Construction Co. and Trumball Corp.
Folks passing through Speers and Charleroi may notice a large nest atop the crane that sits along the Monongahela River. The once-endangered osprey hawk has returned to the area, and a nesting pair calls the crane home. (Photo courtesy of Jim Bonner)
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In 1979, the osprey, a strikingly powerful bird of prey, was listed as extirpated 鈥� locally extinct 鈥� in Pennsylvania.
鈥淭heir story is so similar to bald eagles,鈥� said Jim Bonner, executive director for the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. 鈥淭hey were hit by the same problems of (the pesticide) DDT softening their egg shells so they could not hatch.鈥�
Only one pair of nesting osprey called Pennsylvania 鈥渉ome鈥� in 1986. The state undertook serious efforts to reintroduce the species, which glides through the skies above every continent except Antarctica, and by 2009 osprey numbers started to soar. The hawk was removed from Pennyslvania鈥檚 Threatened and Endangered Species list in 2017.
Volunteer surveys illustrate the osprey鈥檚 comeback; in 2010 and 2013, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reported at least 100 osprey nests statewide.
And one grand ole osprey pair resides atop a crane in the Mon Valley.
Early last month, a local phoned the Audubon Society to report something fantastic: Bald eagles were nesting along the Monongahela River near Charleroi.
鈥淲e get lots of eagle calls that end up being turkeys. People are learning. Their eye may not be as developed,鈥� said Bonner. 鈥淭he woman was adamant it was an eagle. As she was describing it, she described a nest. I said, 鈥榊ou know, that sounds an awful lot like an osprey.鈥� Why wouldn鈥檛 there be some along the Mon?鈥�
Bonner trekked to Charleroi 鈥� he grew up in Glassport and knows the area 鈥� to confirm that a nesting pair of osprey and two hatchlings had moved into a home sweet home atop an industrial crane.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a little town 鈥� called Speers. They鈥檙e sitting right above train tracks (on) a large red crane鈥� near the Interstate 70 interchange, Bonner said. 鈥淎pparently people down there have known about it for a couple of years.鈥�
Crews from Brayman Construction Co. have been working alongside the osprey 鈥� the hawk is known for nesting in the same spot year after year 鈥� while completing the Charleroi Locks and Dam joint project with Trumball Corp.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 recall anything like that鈥� happening at another site, said Jason Lynch, quality control manager for Brayman. 鈥淣ot in a crane, nothing that I鈥檝e seen like that before.鈥�
Though osprey often nest on manmade structures, opting for industrial fixtures near water that resemble seaside or riverside cliffs and trees, wildlife sightings along the Mon River are only just becoming common.
In the 1960s, Charleroi and surrounding areas were industrial hubs, and descriptors of Pittsburgh and its black-soot sky applied to small towns south of the city.
鈥淚 still think about the fact that when it snows now, it stays white,鈥� said Bonner. 鈥淒evelopment was so heavy along the river. Growing up in that area, 15 or 20 minutes after the snow fell, it was black. That鈥檚 how I think of my youth.鈥�
Bonner recalls swimming in the Mon (despite warnings to steer clear of its polluted waters) but doesn鈥檛 remember many bird sightings. Now, wildlife is returning to the area, and reports of additional osprey nests along the Monongahela River were called in following the sighting of the crane-dwelling family.
鈥淚n the Mon Valley, we鈥檝e seen a couple things that have contributed. Certainly the cleanup. There鈥檚 more fish on the river, certainly than when I was a kid. It鈥檚 not necessarily a great positive that our population is down, but that certainly has afforded the ability for wildlife to come back,鈥� Bonner said, noting acid mine drainage has been reduced.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a testament to a lot of work. Between still supporting (industry) but having a closer balance where people can now see and enjoy 鈥� nature, is rewarding. I hope people appreciate it. Ospreys nest at the same location each year. We can look forward to seeing them again on that crane next year.鈥�