If you’re pressed for time and looking for a quick place to go birding, the Wethersfield Cove is the perfect choice. Located along the Connecticut River and just seconds off of Interstate 91, the cove offers a safe atmosphere, a drive up viewing area, and of course, great birds.
Birders who visit the Wethersfield Cove are often treated to year-round sightings of Bald Eagles, an excellent chance to find white-winged gulls and waterfowl. Last year however, the cove became known for something else, a place where Ospreys nest.
Osprey sightings at the cove during spring migration are frequent and expected at this time of the year. But as last spring’s sightings drew closer to summer, I began to suspect that there was more to these observations that just another passing migrant. I decided to find out exactly what was going on.
The next morning, I once again caught sight of the Osprey, this time with a fish in its talons heading fast toward the river. I jumped out of my car and followed a road under Interstate 91 to the riverbank. It was here where I discovered the fish-toting raptor and its recipient sitting on her nest!
When the last Atlas of Breeding Birds of Connecticut was published in 1994, there were just a few confirmed nesting pairs along the coast, all found east of the Connecticut River. Today, the Osprey is thriving throughout the entire coastline, thanks in part to artificial nesting platforms and to dedicated people who have a strong interest in the species conservation. Ospreys have even taken to some inland sites, like Wethersfield.
When Ospreys do decide nest inland, they will often take advantage of an open area with some sort of tall structure such as power/lighting poles.
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| Willow Brook Park Nest |
At this time, there are two known active Osprey nests in Hartford County. The first nest that was discovered is located in the town of New Britain, seven miles from the Connecticut River. It is placed high upon a sports stadium light tower at Willow Brook Park. This area features good feeding opportunities at nearby Shuttle Meadow Reservoir and Crescent Lake, safety from ground predators and a wide, stable platform to accommodate a large nest.
The Wethersfield nest site is in a little bit more of a precarious position. It is located just north of the cove outflow, on an old out-of-use oil delivery platform. Five of the nine wooden support poles that hold the platform up have broken due to old age, flooding and ice. This nest is not likely to survive many more years unless something is done to strengthen the supports. In 2010, the Wethersfield nest fledged two young.
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| Wethersfield Cove Nest Photo courtesy of Jim Woodworth |
With Ospreys becoming more successful away from coastal areas, it may be time to strongly consider erecting a couple new platforms, inland along the Connecticut River. In fact, the Great Meadows Conservation Trust has already looked into placing a platform onto one their properties. To learn more about this excellent organization, see here: http://www.gmct.org/
Finding the nest last year and watching the young Osprey develop is nearly indescribable. It almost seems miraculous! Let’s hope they continue to prosper.
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