Osprey Platforms

[barb walker]

Hi Rob,

 

One of the volunteers made a platform out of pressure treated wood. Is pressure treated wood safe for ospreys to use?

 

Thanks,

 

Barb Walker

Palm Harbor, FL

 

[Rob Bierregaard]

Yes. The nest will be far from the wood, and there will be plenty of
ventilation up there, so no need to worry.

Rob

[Fred]

> Yes. The nest will be far from the wood, and there will be plenty of
> ventilation up there, so no need to worry.

And, they don't peck at the wood, either (as far as I know)...

Keep Lookin' Up !!!

Fred (Frederick Wasti)

Marshfield, Massachusetts

[DeeDee McGann-Gollwitzer]

I'm not Rob, but I would say the platform needs to be changed ASAP.  The last thing an Osprey needs to be exposed to is Arsenic.  See link below.

 

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/PROGRAMS/tcp/sites/tacoma_smelter/Reference_links/NY%20Times%20article%20arsenic-treated%20wood.pdf

 

Now they have changed the Arsenic to very high levels of Copper which will corrode the connective materials (nails and screws). 

 

http://woodworking.about.com/od/safetyfirst/p/SafeACQLumber.htm

 

Here's another link from Audubon in Omaha:

 

http://audubon-omaha.org/bestofbbml/boxesptl.htm

 

I don't believe there is a substitute for Mother Nature.  Once man gets involved, there always seems to be something bad - whether they discover it right away or in the future. 

 

It's not worth the risk, in my humble opinion. 

 

I live in Southern California.  The DFG is stocking the lakes with trout here.  It's such a joy to watch the Osprey dive for fish.  I think some of them have migrated down from the colder Northwest. 

 

DeeDee Gollwitzer