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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Thanks to the efforts of local individuals and organizations, there is a new nesting spot for the ospreys that live in and around Lakeside County Park.
The osprey nest tree at Lakeside County Park near Kelseyville was a popular osprey watching site for many who love this iconic bird of Clear Lake.
Sadly, the tree was deemed a hazard by the County of Lake and was cut down over the winter.
Faith Rigolosi, owner of Eyes on the Wild, a photography touring business here, brought the situation to the attention of Marilyn Waits, a board member of the local Redbud Audubon Society.
Waits, along with other Redbud board members, set about arranging the installation of a new pole for the osprey to call home.
Calpine Corp. made a generous donation of $10,000 to Redbud Audubon’s Osprey Pole Fund, established decades ago to facilitate osprey pole replacement, and funds from this grant enabled Redbud to purchase the pole for the osprey nest and to hire the Lucchetti Excavating Co. of Ukiah to install it.
The Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee also approved $5,000 for Redbud to purchase two osprey interpretive panels to be installed at Lakeside County Park, one in English and one in Spanish because so many Hispanic families use the park regularly. Outdoors columnist Terry Knight initiated the request for the interpretive panel funding from the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee.
On Feb. 11, the Lucchetti Co. showed up at the park with their equipment and with help from Dan Cole, construction manager at Calpine, the Geysers and others, the pole was raised with the nesting disc attached to the top.
“The pole and the descriptive panels will provide a wonderful interpretive and wildlife viewing opportunity for both Lake County residents and visitors,” said Redbud Audubon President Roberta Lyons.
The osprey have already been spotted at the park and should start rebuilding their nest soon.
The Redbud Audubon Society is the oldest conservation group in Lake County. Founded in 1974, the Audubon Society offers monthly environmental programs from September through April, follows conservation related issues in the county and presents the yearly Heron Days event that takes visitors and residents alike along the shoreline in pontoon boats to view wildlife, including heron nesting sites on Clear Lake’s shoreline.
This year Heron Days will be held on the last weekend of April and the first weekend in May. Redbud Audubon will announce when registration for the boat rides is open.
For more information about Redbud or to become a member, go to www.redbudaudubon.org.
