Ospreys had been building and using a nest on a lattice tower that was part of a derelict conveyor belt system at the Port of West Sacramento since 2021. Over the past few years, the ospreys added to the nest which by early 2025 weighed approximately 150 pounds, consisting of branches, coat hangers, rope, tree bark and other scavenged material. It was approximately 70 feet above ground, 3 feet in diameter, and 2-1/2 feet tall.
The City of West Sacramento planned to remove the old tower, triggering a state law (Fish and Game Code Section 3503.5) that prohibits taking, possessing, or destroying nests of any birds of prey, whether currently occupied or not, without prior authorization from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The state agency typically requests that such nests be relocated to new nest structures whenever practical. In response, the Port of West Sacramento hired a consultant, H. T. Harvey & Associates to advise the Port on alternatives. Harvey developed a nest removal and relocation plan on January 9, 2025.
In January, the Port asked the Lake Washington Sailing Club (LWSC) for volunteers to help carry out its nest relocation plan in time for spring breeding by the osprey. LWSC has been operating out of the Port since 1933. It responded with an ad hoc committee led by Stefan Lorenzato and LWSC’s Port Captain Brandon Lee. Volunteers worked with Port officials to consider and refine alternatives for a new location for the nest, pole and nest structural systems, and heavy mechanical equipment to facilitate construction of the new nest structure. A member of LWSC happened to also be a member of Sacramento Audubon, which facilitated the engagement of Dan Airola who has been monitoring osprey populations throughout the Central Valley. Airola wrote a paper along with J.A. Estep in 2022 titled, “Habitat Use and Reproductive Success of Ospreys in Central Interior California.” Airola provided key advice to the Port and LWSC on the proposed nesting location and how much of the existing nest should be salvaged and reused. LWSC and the Port are grateful for Sacramento Audubon’s and Airola’s advice and support.
Volunteers considered adapting an aluminum sailing mast to support the nest, but eventually settled on a more traditional wood telephone pole, since the Port had several free poles in stock. Volunteers also explored the purchase of a plastic nest box that is commonly deployed by utility companies throughout the U.S. However, LWSC found that plastic nest boxes were not readily available and would be costly and cause a delay to fabricate. So LWSC volunteers opted to build a wooden nest box using guidance in the Port’s Plan by Harvey. Volunteers prepared and moved the wood pole to the new site, dug an 8 foot deep post hole with a large auger, mounted the nest box onto the pole and placed part of the existing nest into the box. The Port paid for equipment rentals and construction materials. The Port also hired Bear Electric to use heavy equipment to lift the pole and place it into its hole, and shore the pole until its concrete base could cure as of March 10, 2025.
The new nest is located on the shore of an old oxbow of the Sacramento River near what is now called Lake Washington. Access to the area around the nest is restricted to the public, making it an ideal setting for undisturbed access by the osprey.
Within several days after erection of the new nest, a pair of ospreys were seen preparing the relocated nest for breeding. So far, the effort has been fortunate since reportedly only roughly half of past efforts to relocate osprey nests have been successful in attracting ospreys.
By Fred Turner, Lake Washington Sailing Club & Sac Audubon Member
Stefan Lorenzato and Gerhard Panuschka building the nest box. Image by Fred Turner
Placing the nest box onto the post. Image by Fred Turner
New osprey nest in place next to Lake Washington. Image by Fred Turner
Ospreys on the new nest. Image by Fred Turner