High atop 60-foot electrical pole on Staten Island, a special platform is now home to osprey hatchlings

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A protected osprey hawk welcomed hatchlings earlier this month on a cozy platform — placed by compassionate Con Edison workers high atop a 60-foot electrical pole for her benefit.

The bird’s nest does not interfere with service or pose a fire risk, which is why Con Edison workers removed one from a nearby pole in March, building instead two safer, more desirable perches on Richmond Avenue for the osprey to choose from — a bit higher in elevation and away from any electrical wires. A similar nest caused a fire in 2023, so concern was high, a Con Edison spokesman said.

The current plan worked, as the new nest — and now new baby birds — are visible on one of the platforms, located at Richmond Avenue and Arthur Kill Road.

“We’re thrilled,’’ said Chris Mc Elduff, operating supervisor of the Staten Island Construction Group for Con Edison, who said his workers really took pride in the undertaking, which involved those from Overhead Construction, Emergency Operations, the Staten Island Control Center and the Environmental Health and Safety department.

Their plan involved research on the behavior of ospreys, which are known for their unusual nesting habits. The birds often select elevated locations, sometimes near water, such as trees or cliffs, or on man-made structures — like power line posts.

A model for conservation

Ospreys are easily identifiable by their predominantly brown plumage, white head and dark eye patches. Once threatened, they are now protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act, said Jose R. Ramírez-Garofalo, director of science and research development for Freshkills Park, where he said the birds saw a wildly successful mating year in 2023.

They were once endangered, impacted by the use of DDT during the 20th century and experiencing significant declines, he said. They’ve now bounced back, but still need support.

“In general, you want to protect birds that are migrating long distances,’' said Ramírez-Garofalo, who is also the president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods. “They are especially susceptible to declines.”

Con Edison’s response to the birds’ situation is a model for conservation, he said, noting that the mother bird is very likely the one displaced in the past.

It’s something he’d like to see repeated elsewhere, especially in urban areas, where ospreys are prone to nesting disturbances because they favor problematic locations.

Doing the right thing

“You have a corporate entity that’s doing the right thing,’’ he said. “They’re willing to do the right thing on their own dime.”

Mc Elduff said his workers were passionate about the project and are elated by the results.

“Everyone shared what they learned,’’ Mc Elduff said. “When we originally saw the (new) nest being built, it definitely hit our email threads.”

An operation like this gives employees a tremendous sense of pride, he said of the construction of the platform, made of a fiberglass “waffleboard.”

“It gave them an opportunity to be creative and come together as a team,’’ he said.

Watch: Osprey plucks fish from Silver Lake Park water in amazing video.

On the environmental side of things at Con Edison, there, too, is satisfaction.

“We’re excited,’’ said Paul Kies, a senior specialist in Environment, Health and Safety who was happy to keep the birds safe.

Precautions had to be taken by workers, including the use of PPE like respirators, because the birds carry pathogens, he said.

“The biggest thing is that we didn’t leave the ospreys without a home,’’ he said, noting that power wasn’t disrupted and safety for the workers was also maintained.

“They’re safe, and our system is also safe,’' he said.

Freshkills Park Administrator Mark Murphy said that Con Edison is a great partner to the Freshkills Park Alliance and the birds.

“We thank them for their commitment to ensuring the osprey remain here and are successful,’' he said.