Fire chiefs support ospreys because of environmental concerns
Krimmert said that he sees restoration of habitat for the Ospreys as directly connected to the fire district mission. It states that Vashon island Fire and Rescue is committed to protecting life, property and the environment.
Vashon Fire Chief Charles Krimmert hopes to welcome a pair of migrating ospreys back to their home on Vashon in just a few weeks, but there’s a hitch: the birds’ large nest, perched atop a 120 foot-tall communication tower at the fire station, was torn down a few months ago by subcontractors working on an AT&T project involving the tower.
Krimmert claimed that the fire department did not authorize the removal of nest and that it should have been authorized by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Since osprey are protected under The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Krimmert spoke to the phone.
Krimmert stated that he had been discussing the issue with experts and plans to ask his board for their support in exploring a solution. This would include erecting a utility pole at the northern end the fire station property where the ospreys can build a nest.
Krimmert will get his wish, but this won’t be the first bid to relocate ospreys onto Vashon’s public land.
An osprey nest located on top of a field light pole that runs between McMurray Middle school and VHS was moved to the top a nearby Douglas Fir, which is 125 feet tall, on school property in 2018.
The work was accomplished by Tom Otto and Shaun Sears — both certified arborists and experienced tree climbers who work on environmental service projects throughout the Northwest.
Osprey nests, as opposed to eagles or any of the other large raptors native to the Pacific Northwest, can be problematic if they are near public places because the birds have an affinity for building them on top of very tall things, and are not particularly discriminating as to what those tall things are — power poles, cellular towers and light poles are as likely nest spots as trees.
Combined with the use of large sticks and branches that can fall and the osprey’s sanitary nursery habits — they will not soil their nests and even the babies are taught to relieve themselves over the sides — an active nest is a potential nuisance to people who might be in the area. Nests that are perched upon light poles or cell towers could catch fire.
Still, Krimmert said he sees the restoration of habitat for the ospreys as directly related to the fire district’s mission, which states that “Vashon Island Fire and Rescue is dedicated to the protection of life, property, our environment, and each other.”
He stated that the birds are unique predators because they often mate for their entire lives. The fire station ospreys were also celebrated in the district’s 2019 annual report, he said.
