The new osprey nest project -- removing hundreds of old pilings and adding a few man-made perches -- is occurring in front of our house at Priest Point. However, the ospreys build their nests on random pilings to the north and east of what was pictured on The Herald's front page. They do not build their nests close to those of other birds.
The closely built nests on the pilings, shown in the Herald photo with the barge and crane, actually belong to a sub-species of Double-crested Cormorants, commonly referred to as the Farallon Cormorant, found along the Pacific shores of North America. Farallon Cormorants were almost eradicated by the use of DDT. Although they have made a comeback since the pesticide ban, their numbers are still not what they were before the use of DDT. These are the black birds you will see perched on pilings with wings stretched out, drying their feathers after swimming and feeding. They have a wingspan of up to 4 feet.
I have no doubt that the organizations involved in this project know the difference between an osprey and a cormorant. So I find it amazing that this cormorant breeding ground is being destroyed in favor of widening the nesting area for ospreys. I also find it amazing that The Herald did not mention that fact along with its front page photo showing the dirty deed in progress.
