Maintaining the Osprey Poles
A badly tilted osprey pole on BLT land in West Barnstable’s Great Marsh concerned BLT Land Manager Red Bansfield. The pole looked to be in trouble in February 2009 when it was found to be tilting at about a 30° angle. BLT acquired this property north of the railroad tracks off Buttonwood Lane in 1992, and the osprey pole, one of three poles on BLT land, went up the next year.
Red phoned members Mark Wirtanen and Gordon Starr, who had helped place the pole in 1993. They were eager to help, and because the pole wouldn’t provide a safe home for the returning pair of osprey, a rescue mission was hatched in mid-March.
Mark and Gordon, along with BLT members Jeff Eshbaugh, Chris Adams, Terri Reilly, Scott and Jane Harvey, as well as Chris Walz, Land Manager at Mass Audubon's Long Pasture Sanctuary, came together on a Sunday morning to restore the pole to its upright position.
Two weeks later Mark had good news: the pair was back and apparently happy with the job! Thanks to our volunteers for the time they took so the osprey and their offspring would have a safe home.