Florida Keys Osprey Nest Survey
Rockland Key
24°35'22" N 81°40'38" W (Map)
Assessment: Needs platform
Pole good. Platform destroyed.
Nest completely blown out. Some residual metal hardware still up there. Will probably need to be removed before replacing the platform.
Sugarloaf Key / Perky Bat Tower
Sugarloaf, 4 Bat Tower Rd, Upper Sugarloaf Key, FL 33042 (Map)
24.649983,-81.572665
Assessment: Needs pole and platform (maybe)
Not a proper pole mounted platform, but there was regular nesting on top of the Perky Bat Tower. The tower went down in the storm. Do we want to talk to the Good family about erecting an Osprey platform somewhere nearby? There's talk of rebuilding/repairing the tower, but it seems unlikely to me.
Summerland Key
2-252 E Shore Dr
Summerland Key, FL 33042 (map)
24.660756, -81.439734
Assessment: Good.
Not sure if any birds ever nested there, but both pole and platform look to be in good shape.
Little Torch Key
620-416 Bay Shore Dr
Summerland Key, FL 33042 (map)
24.667532, -81.418103
Assessment: Good.
Active. Has birds on a nest. Which is cool.
Big Torch Key
Near Dorn Road
24.7058946695884,-81.4310489991974 (map)
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/5970
Assessment:
There was supposed to be an Osprey nest far back on Dorn Road, but I could not locate. I believe it went down. Talked to a few neighbors and no one was quite sure where it was.
Received a social media report on this one. Also found it on Osprey Watch.
Little Torch Key / SR 4A
State Road 4A, Summerland Key, FL 33042 (map)
24.668070,-81.394059
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/5969
Assessment: Needs new platform, may just chain link.
Big Pine Key / Sea Camp
24.6557367484974,-81.3690376984768 (map)
This nest was not mentioned in social media feedback, so I did not look for it when I went up. Found out about it from Osprey Watch. Need to assess.
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/5985
Assessment: Unknown
Big Pine Key / Long Beach Road
2139 Long Beach Dr Big Pine Key, Florida (map)
24.6357814774972, -81.3567745079346
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/5983
This nest is on private property. Owners very anxious to get it back up. Need to call refuge and ask if that is legal, then county. Pole may be re-usable.
Assessment: Needs pole and platform
Key Colony Beach
600 E Ocean Dr, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051 (map)
24.7209744,-81.0186827
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/4765
Assessment: Missing
Reported to me via social media and is listed on the Osprey Watch site. Visited but could not even find a possible pole. It's on the city hall property but no one seemed to know about it. May not have been recently active, or may have disappeared before the storm, because I can't see how even non-birders could be unaware of an Osprey nest 50 feet from where they park their car. Couldn't find it on Google Street View either.
Islamorada / Dead Animal Bar / Safari Lounge
73814 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 (map)
24°51'2" N 80°44'16" W
Assessment: Pole crooked.
Reported to me via Social media. Not on Osprey Watch. Looks like it was active, but the pole is crooked. Platform seem okay. Can the pole be straightened? Is this private property. The who marina complex is still closed with damage, so if on private property may want to give them a little time until approaching them.
Islamorada / Oceana
32661 N Ocean Ln, Islamorada, FL 33036 (map)
24.924193, -80.625320
NOTES FROM OSPREY WATCH: The nest is located at the end of North Ocean Ln in Islamorada, Fl 33036 MM 82.5 was placed next to a concrete dock, and have some mangroves around it. This couple is a part of the local Florida Keys Osprey population wish has been declining steadily from the last 20 years, 57% of the population has disappear. These individuals do not reproduce with the migratory Ospreys, for this reason is considered a Monroe County isolated group. 2010-2011 Nest unoccupied 2012 Nest failure 2013 Nest failure 2014 Nest Failure All images taken from approximately 225 feet distance with a scope.
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/4657
Assessment: None yet
Didn't know about this one when I was up there. Just found it on Osprey Watch. Will look for it on Weds, Jan 10 if possible
Islamorada / Postcard Inn
84319-84359 Overseas Hwy (map)
Islamorada, FL 33036
24.942483, -80.607036
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/1196
Assessment: Good. Active.
Opsrey actually on nest. Does not look to have received any damage. Cool.
Islamorada / Drop Anchor Inn
84898-84678 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 (map)
24.948180, -80.597878
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/1198
Assessment: Good.
Pole and platform in good shape, but no nesting activity. Osprey Watch hasn't described it as active since 2013, which doesn't mean it hasn't been. Could mean no one has checked.
Islamorada / Snake Creek Bridge
85501 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036
24.951738,-80.588724
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/1197
FROM OSPREY WATCH: Next to Snake Creek bridge and the Island Grille. This is a VERY busy area for a nest, right next to the highway.
THERE IS A 2017 NOTE SAYING THE PLATFORM WAS UNOCCUPIED, BUT NOT SURE WHEN IN 2017
Assessment: None yet
Didn't know about this one when I was up there. Just found it on Osprey Watch. Will look for it on Weds, Jan 10 if possible
Key Largo / Ivanhoe
147 Seaside Ave, Key Largo, Florida 33037 (map)
(Beside the Dove Creek Lodge)
25.0400213,-80.4928442
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/6125
Assessment: None yet
Didn't know about this one when I was up there. Just found it on Osprey Watch. Will look for it on Weds, Jan 10 if possible
Key Largo / La Verne Smith's
98700 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL (map)
25.08376,-80.4506959
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/5950
OSPREY WATCH NOTE: On residential lot on Overseas Hwy near mm98.6 in Key Largo, FL 33037. Near back of lot, close to waterfront on ocean side. Platform was erected several years ago by homeowner. Many successful nesting years, skipped only 2015.
Assessment: None by us, but...
Didn't know about it until I saw it on Osprey Watch. Someone there wrote this:
09/25/2017 by Charlene
Platform survived Irma. Male was seen around off and on since late September, which is earlier then his normal return.
Key Largo / Yacht Club Drive
25.1826726129556,-80.3844430255583 (map)
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/5417
Assessment: None by us, but...
Someone on Osprey Watch wrote this:
12/01/2017 by Charlene
Platform has been here for some years. Appears to have survived Irma.
Key Largo / Lake Surprise
Along the shore of Lake Surprise, East of Overseas Hwy, near mm 106.
25.1777723635475,-80.374926925354 (map)
http://www.osprey-watch.org/nests/6968
Assessment: None by us, but...
Didn't know about it until I saw it on Osprey Watch. Someone there wrote this:
12/01/2017 by Charlene
Platform has been here for some years. Appears to have survived Irma.
Key Largo / MM111-ish
Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
25.218050, -80.427580
On the Atlantic side, just beyond the fence.
Assessment: Good. Birds on nest.
Tough to get a good look at, but shot a functional photo with my iPhone while driving by.
