Jan

Ospreys on the Trail

Ospreys have been around Cheatham County Tennessee for many years.

We are lucky to have Ospreys nested in our area.

At one time, there was an Eagle Nest viewable from the Eagle Pass section of the Trail until about 2017 when apparently it was blown down in a storm.

Viewing opportunities have brought photographers and trail users to watch the nesting pair and their fledglings in late winter.

There was also at this time residents on the bluff above the trail who had trained a camera on the nest for up-close views of the nesting pair and their babies as they grew.

After the nest blew out, the pair rebuilt further out across the Cumberland and mostly out of view.

The Friends of the Trail decided to build a platform for nesting raptors around 2018 as a new feature for the Trail, a suitable site was determined just off the trail on Sycamore creek less than 100 feet from the large trestle on the Trail.

After many months of securing a permit from the Corp of Engineers offsite construction of the platform was completed based on a design from a platform constructed and erected in Florida.

Eagles prefer to nest in a natural tree so this nest was primarily targeted for Osprey.

In September 2019 after waiting for a stretch of dry weather the Friends of the Trail crew engineered over a two day period the erection of the platform at the desired site with help of some local volunteers. We are anxiously awaiting to see if the Osprey will utilize the new platform this coming spring 2020.

Brad Maxwell made it his mission with others to get a nest platform built and installed somewhere around the trail. Shout out to Jim Coffroth for building the platform.

This is what great volunteers do to help make things happen for many years to enjoy nature.

We would love to have you join us and help make our trails enjoyable for the future. You can donate your time. Donate to the Trails. Spread the word. Invite others to join and help.