Murwillumbah’s new artificial cradle for breeding ospreys

It may look like a cage at the end of a log, but it has a very important purpose.

Contractors put up a new osprey nest cradle on Tumbulgum Road at Murwillumbah to replace an older cradle which was collapsing.

There’s a new high rise in Murwillumbah, but it’s strictly for the birds.

A new aluminium osprey nest cradle was installed on the bank of the Tweed River near Campbell’s Hill in Murwillumbah.

The new 20m tall artificial nest structure was intended to replace the existing damaged nest cradle which sat on a power pole nearby.

The original nest cradle was installed in 1993 and collapsed due to rust damage.

The nest was built for a pair of ospreys pair that rear chicks in the area.

The new cradle was constructed by council welder technician Todd Standfield at the Murwillumbah Depot.

The design differs from many existing osprey nest cradles being square rather than round and was made in aluminium rather than galvanised steel, offering better durability in the coastal environment.

The cradle is strong enough to withstand the weight of the large nests that ospreys build, which grow over the years as more and more sticks are added.

A new artificial nest has been put up for local ospreys. Sam Greenwood/Getty Images/AFP

“It took me about a day to put it all together and I think it is large enough for the ospreys to build a good solid nest,” Mr Standfield said.

Electricity pole installation contractors Dwayne Bianchetti and Paul Nicholls, who assisted council in the installation of several osprey nest structures around the shire, attached the cradle to the top of a 23m pole which was embedded 3m into the ground.

The new structure is located about 10m from the old nest.

Waterways Program Leader Tom Alletson hoped the new nest cradle offered a sturdier platform for the breeding pair of birds who were, up until a week ago, still trying to build a nest on the old collapsed cradle.

The artificial osprey nest on Tumbulgum Road is one of nine which have been upgraded by the council in recent years.

“In a purely natural setting, osprey nest in very large, old dead trees, typically close to waterways. These are a key habitat requirement for them to breed,” Mr Alletson said.

“In our developed coastal landscape, most of these old trees have been lost, so the birds currently have to rely on artificial structures.

“Every time we plant trees along our waterways we include the types of trees that osprey would once have used, so in future generations hopefully they can get this key natural habitat back.”

The Murwillumbah nest is monitored by volunteers from the Tweed Osprey Group, who observe 31 osprey nesting sites on the Tweed and Brunswick coasts and waterways.

The resident pair are still frequenting the site but there has been no activity to indicate they have commenced breeding or building a new nest.

The osprey program is supported by Tweed Holidays Parks which donates almost $1 million each year towards council’s sustainability and environment programs.