Deterring Osprey nests is a common practice by private landowners and energy companies to prevent damage to infrastructure. However, a permit must be acquired from the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service to do so. Furthermore, even with a permit, if the nest is found to have eggs, nestlings, or fledglings, then the permit is nullified. Power companies will reach out to Audubon as part of the permit application process to learn more about nest activity.

Still, Osprey nests on utility poles can cause power outages due to interfering with wires and components (https://tinyurl.com/4u524p78). Nesting deterrents on utility poles do serve some benefit to the Ospreys as well. Nests on utility poles can catch fire due to flammable nest materials being so close to high-voltage wires.

While ASRI does maintain a handful of Osprey nesting poles and platforms on our Wildlife Refuges, we do not actively erect and maintain poles in the community. If you are interested in installing a pole and platform on your property or in your neighborhood, please refer to the resources below, or contact Dr. Charles Clarkson, Audubon’s Director of Avian Research, at cclarkson@asri.org for more information.
http://www.lrconline.com/Extension_Notes_English/pdf/ospry.pdf

Typically 3, but sometimes 2, and rarely 4. In Rhode Island, out of the 370 nests we monitor, only a single nest may end up with 4 eggs in a season. See https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/osprey to learn more about the Osprey breeding behaviors.

An Osprey is considered a “nestling” when it has first hatched, it cannot fly, and is covered with downy feathers that are tan or brown in coloration (top image). An Osprey is considered a “fledgling” when it has grown its flight feathers (bottom image). The fledglings are only slightly smaller than adult Ospreys, have a dark orange eye (compared to the light yellow eye of the adults), and have a “salt and pepper” pattern on their wings (compared to the solid black color of the adult wings).

This is a common occurrence in areas where there is a high density of Osprey nests. It is a symptom of a growing population. Unfortunately, this territorial behavior can lead to a decline in the number of young Osprey that survive the season, as parents spend more time defending their nest than foraging for food.