Oh babies! Huntington Lighthouse osprey couple deliver with the birth of three chicks

Three osprey hatchlings have been spotted at a nest located at the Huntington Lighthouse just in time for Father’s Day – the sighting marks the first time chicks have made an appearance since the nest was established two years ago. “We’re thrilled that our resident ospreys are finally parents,” said Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society (HLPS) president Pam Setchell. “We’ve been patiently waiting for this day since the first nest was built back in 2021, and we couldn't be happier for the pair.”

In spring 2021, a pair of juvenile ospreys took up residency on the lighthouse dock – a dangerous location for the birds, and a hindrance to the lighthouse staff. Working in conjunction with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), a raised platform was constructed, and the nest was moved to a penthouse location on the north side of the lighthouse. For the past two summers, birds have built nests on the platform and eggs were laid, but none produced hatchlings.

Ospreys mate for life, going their separate ways when migrating south for the winter but reuniting in the spring and summer, returning to the same nest. Typically, a female osprey will sit on the nest protecting the hatchlings while the male brings back fish for the family – parenting duties are shared. Six weeks after hatching, the mother starts hunting again, delivering a fish to the nest for her growing brood, who have learned to feed themselves. At about eight weeks, the hatchlings, now called fledglings, will take their first flight.

“We congratulate the Huntington Lighthouse for their effort to provide a safe place for the returning osprey to nest,” said DEC Wildlife Biologist Chip Hamilton, who called the recovery of osprey following the ban of the insecticide DDT “remarkable,” noting that efforts such as erecting platforms like the one at the lighthouse have aided in the recovery of the species.

The discovery of the chicks coincides with World Ocean Day, celebrated every year on June 8. Cleaner waters, an abundance of prey, better protections, and the elimination of DDT as a pesticide have all contributed to the osprey’s success story. Osprey nests have become common sightings around Long Island’s marshy shorelines, a testament to the birds rebound from near extinction back in the 1960s. But ospreys are still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and disturbing an active nest is a federal and state offense.

“The safety of the new parents and chicks continues to be a priority and [we] look forward to providing a safe summer home for our resident ospreys,” said Setchell. Officials are working to ensure that summer lighthouse tours can safely continue for the birds and visitors, Setchell added. The popular Lighthouse Music Festival, scheduled for Saturday, September 2, will also still take place.

For additional information about ospreys and other raptors, visit: DEC.NY.gov. For additional information about the Huntington Lighthouse, including the schedule for summer tours, visit: Huntington Lighthouse.org. Follow the Huntington Lighthouse ospreys on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.