Young Osprey Rescued from Light Tower Nest at Blackstone Park
A juvenile osprey was rescued Saturday after being found hanging upside down and entangled in synthetic construction netting nearly 75 feet in the air at Blackstone Park in Palmetto.
The young bird had become trapped under its nest, which was built on top of a stadium light tower on an athletic field. While the entangled osprey dangled below, its sibling remained in the nest, and the mother hovered nearby, closely watching the scene unfold.
The rescue was carried out by Save Our Seabirds (SOS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation. Senior rehabber Jonathan Hande organized the operation, with SOS volunteers Roger and Laurie Rheim leading the hands-on effort. Using a bucket lift provided by Harbour Crane Service, the team carefully freed the osprey from the netting.
Manatee County Animal Services responded to the scene to assist, while Manatee Parks & Recreation coordinated access and logistics to facilitate the rescue.
The young osprey was transported to SOS’s avian hospital, where it is now under close observation and receiving care. The synthetic netting that caused the entanglement had been used by the birds as nesting material, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by manmade debris in wildlife habitats.
