Ospreys disrupt Public Radio signal (MD)

[Donna]

SALISBURY -- Public Radio Delmarva is experiencing signal disruption as ospreys re-emerge to their prior perching place.

The osprey, also known as the sea hawk, has taken flight back to Salisbury University's campus for spring. The birds and their young are beginning to practice flight from the antenna that connects to Public Radio Delmarva's signal, creating frequent interruptions for the station and its listeners.

The fish eaters primarily nest in urban areas near a body of water. Salisbury is centrally located between Ocean City and the Chesapeake Bay, making it a desirable perching spot for the water predator.

Residing on this particular antenna for several years, the birds have augmented the issue more this spring than ever before.

"We have been experiencing quite a few disprutions," said Gerry Weston, general manager of Public Radio Delmarva.

They have also received many phone calls from unhappy listeners as a result, he said.

This could be a major concern for the station's upcoming "Spring Green: Making a Difference on Delmarva" event. This fundraiser is scheduled to be broadcast from April 16-24 and could damper efforts to raise more money than in previous years.

In hopes of reconciling the issue, Weston and station management requested a professional tower climber visit the site to offer some possible solutions. The plan is to attach a rod from the top of the transmitter link to the end of the antenna leading to the dish, which should end the signal failure.

"We don't want to harm the birds, but we want to prevent them from perching on the rod," Weston said.

The tower climber is expected to try and resolve the issue this week, hopefully before the station's big event, Weston said.

Ellen Lawler, a biology department professor at SU, specializes in ornithology, or the study of birds. She said ospreys return to the Lower Shore every spring and have been a part of the campus for about five to six years. Coming as a listener of Public Radio Delmarva's WSDL and WSCL, Lawler can sympathize with them.

"They have taken the osprey into consideration and have done what they can not to disturb the birds," Lawler said. "I am cautiously optimistic that this should be a good solution."

The station has worked very hard to find a middle-ground solution, according to the general manager.

"We have been concerned about what effect this will have on our listening audience," Weston said.

Despite her frustrations with the signal disruptions, Lawler said she does not feel this is enough to cancel her membership with the station.

[Lou]

Hope this isn't a concern for future Osprey nest sites.

The Osprey nest that was on the communication tower near us on Curtis Road in Greece has been removed. Below are a couple of pictures - one from last year and one taken recently. This was a well-established nest so I don't think that it was a nature-related removal.

Dana and I have been driving by occasionally to see if the Ospreys have returned to see their home removed, but we haven't seen anything.

We'll continue checking it out and report any developments. If any.

Lou

[valhalla]

Maryland is really good about our Osprey (think back to my tormenting Baltimore, Gas, and Electric about one of my nests).  Nesting platforms are built for these wonderful birds, so that Salisbury bunch will be accomodated one way or another.

Your Osprey is another story, as we have Osprey in every tower near the Bay that looks like yours - heck they even nest at Dalgren, so the Navy is working around them.  Of course, the Osprey has become a major Chesapeake icon.  Check with the owner of the tower - they might be working on alternate Osprey Accomodations ;-)