Non-Intervention

Boulder County has a strict non-intervention policy with ospreys and other birds of prey. Boulder County will not act to aid or assist the ospreys in any event. Human intervention is extremely stressful to ospreys and puts a serious risk to staff. This camera is a look into nature and shows just how harsh nature can be.

Citizen Science Project

A citizen science project is being conducted to report and compare fish counts, fish species, and other important observations from data collected from osprey nest video cameras to establish these parameters as predictors of breeding success. The project is being conducted by a researcher with The College of William and Mary in Virginia. Observers are asked to report whenever a fish is delivered to the nest.

Report Activity

Fairgrounds Osprey

This is one of several osprey nests in Boulder County. In the spring of 2003, this osprey pair began nesting on a light pole at the Boulder County Fairgrounds and returned each year. In 2009, wildlife biologists moved the nest to its current location just east of the Cattail pond for the birds’ safety. The pair shifted to the new location with ease. Our biologists believe that the local surge in nests may be offspring returning to their previous habitat area.

In 2014 and 2015, a female osprey with a metal band around her leg was seen. We reported the band number to the United States Geological Survey Bird Banding Program and received the band report. This banded female osprey is not the resident female and may have lost her mate and/or was looking for a new partner.

In 2015, three osprey chicks fledged. In 2016, one osprey chick fledged. In 2017 and 2018, three osprey chicks fledged. See the interactive timeline above for specific dates and other significant events.