Osprey Platform Installation

Osprey Platform Installation Pricing (No Fixed Pricing)

Pricing for installation of an Osprey platform, erecting a pole with a platform on it and tree installations are all determined by the needed platform heights and logistics, which are different at every property.

Pricing depends on height, equipment, logistics, and property conditions.

Information we need: your name, full address and at least four recent (vertical) photos showing all trees and buildings around the area where you want the platform/pole installed.

Osprey Platform Height

An Osprey platform, in most cases, must be as tall or taller than any surrounding trees or structures. Keep in mind that trees will continue to grow. If their view is blocked, they may not nest there for long.

Taller trees and buildings mandate taller, more costly poles and heavy machinery for installation. Anything over a 35-45ft pole may mandate additional large equipment.

If trees or buildings are blocking the view of an Osprey while they sit on a nest or nesting platform, they will need to repeatedly be looking at that blind spot in fear of predators flying in from that direction. The Ospreys will eventually become physically and emotionally exhausted from looking over their shoulders all the time and vacate the nest.

Great Blue Herons, Great Horned Owls, Eagles, Hawks and other avian species are all aerial predators to the nestlings and eggs. The nest is guarded by a mating couple at all times.

Pole-mounted platform with camera/deterrent hardware.

Video: why platform height matters.

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Another unique installation was to provide a better choice for Ospreys to nest on something other than tennis court lighting. A platform was installed in a community pond with old dock pilings six feet above the water; and the Ospreys moved right in.

Bruha insists that if a person cannot jump up and down on the platform, do the chicken dance and violently shake it, it’s not going up on his watch.

Platforms on Existing Decommissioned Power Poles & Platform Replacement

A typical platform installation on an existing pole takes about one hour start to finish if the pole is on site and there are few obstacles.

We prefer installing several platforms in one day, several days in a row, to distribute rented machinery and lift costs between several property owners instead of one property absorbing all cost.

Platforms on New or Used Poles or Pre-Cut Trees

When platforms need to be placed on a dedicated pole, the platforms are installed on the pole prior to being erected. Fresh green branches are woven into the galvanized chain link floor to start the nest foundation.

Boom lift used during an installation.

Preparations include permits, machine rental, machine operator, utility locates, weather planning, and having the pole delivered ahead of time.

Platforms on Dead or Live Trees

Live trees can reject lag bolts over time. Trees can be used in lieu of poles only under specific circumstances:

• The tree must be girdled and injected by a Pest Control Professional or Arborist.
• Cut a tree down, let it dry for a while, then re-plant it with an excavator.
• Australian Pines will not be considered unless completely dead for at least one year.

All tree tops must be at least 8” with no woodpecker or other damage below. Lower branches should be removed to allow a predator guard.

Platforms on Water

Water based poles are jetted and pounded into the ground like dock pilings. The tallest pole that a typical barge can safely install is approximately 35 feet.

Coordinating with neighbors and dock builders can reduce barge mobilization costs.

Acceptable Osprey Platforms

Our platforms should last 15-25 years. We will not install junk platforms because failures almost always happen when there are babies in the nest.

We do not care for metal platforms due to lightning, even if they are properly grounded. We will not install dish-style or poorly made platforms. We will not install a wood pallet and call it a platform, especially if you add a solid wood bottom to it.

Metal platforms always fail in the same manner and get struck with lightning more often.

Dish-style platforms are commonly used, but are rarely successful for breeding.

The V gives the Osprey a place to sit where it can look out for predators and a place to escape raucous chicks without being very far away. Another advantage to the V platform is that it is less likely to emulate a telephone pole. Most wildlife management professionals want to discourage Osprey from thinking of telephone poles as a place to nest and a V platform is a step in the right direction to that regard.

The very best platforms that we have ever touched are made by a volunteer of SCCF. Osprey platform designs from all over the world were compared for quality, longevity, affordability, and difficulty of making each style. The result was a wooden platform built like a brick outhouse.

Ned Bruha has personally taken a SCCF platform and repeatedly thrown it off a one-story house onto concrete, purposely having it land on the corners of the platform in an attempt to destroy one. When that did not work, he took a big 4-wheel drive truck and drove over it several times. The platform was still flawless with no chips or damage, so it was eventually installed.

The very best platforms we have ever touched are made by a volunteer of SCCF. SCCF platforms can be obtained via a donation through Ospreys.com.

Your donation includes the platform, two perches, a predator guard to keep ground predators like raccoons and iguanas from climbing the pole or tree, bottom-side mounting brackets, screws, lag bolts and fender washers. Platforms can be shipped anywhere world-wide, picked up or brought with us on installation day.

Platform Site Selection Criteria

• Overall height is important to prevent obstructed views and predator stress.
• Poop radius is approximately 20 feet.
• Branching matters; power lines are not good for branching.
• Food and water matter, but Ospreys can nest miles away from water sources.

Out of Town and Out of County Platforms and Nuisance Osprey Work

The Wildlife Whisperer® will travel anywhere wildlife dilemmas take him, wherever he can legally do tasks and be properly insured: Florida Keys, Jacksonville, the Florida panhandle, different states and different countries.

Preparation for your Osprey Platform Installation Day

Sprinklers

If machinery will be on your lawn, pause sprinklers a few days prior and keep them off on installation day.

Payments

To keep costs lower, you will be making four different payments. If you want to run it all through The Wildlife Whisperer® and make one payment, we will do so with a markup on the pricing.

Payments made to the excavator operator, Corey Bigler of Premier Growers, are to be made in advance. The Wildlife Whisperer® should be paid in full on the actual installation day.

You will be paying directly to the lumber yard to have the pole delivered to your property. An invoice will be ready in your name at the lumber yard with the best pricing and service.

Pets

Keep pets indoors during installation day.

Pathway

Clear the path from street to install area for heavy equipment and trailers.

Platform Only Installations

Platform-only installations typically require a full, clean city-sized garbage can of sticks and a 5 gallon bucket of fresh green sticks. For new platforms, freshly cut palm fronds can help draw attention.

Utility Locates

In some situations, utility locates are required. Flags are preferred over paint. A white marker at desired install location can help.

Donation Requirement (Minimum $250)

Please be prepared to show proof (screenshot is fine) that you have submitted a donation for the platform itself to SCCF via Ospreys.com.

Click “Donate”, click any level “Build a Nest” or greater, and make a minimum donation of $250.

Donation-supported platform components (Ospreys.com).

Optional: Cameras on Your Osprey Platform

Would you like a camera or two on your Osprey platform? We can help with simple phone/TV cameras or higher-quality streaming setups for businesses and HOAs.

Osprey with chicks on a platform.

Platform with camera hardware.

Cape Coral City Limits

Please note that Osprey platforms are not allowed in Cape Coral City limits unless they are placed on commercial, city, state of government properties.

Ready to Have an Osprey Platform Installed?

We will need your name, full address, and photos to confirm feasibility and logistics. Send details through our contact page.