Baby Osprey Rescue at Three Mile Bend
July 18, 2024
On Friday, July 12, Medicine River Wildlife Centre received a call from a concerned citizen that a baby Osprey had fallen out of its nest at Three Mile Bend in Red Deer.
Staff member, Judy, attended quickly and rescued the little one from the ground. After an examination, it was determined that the baby was healthy and simply needed to be returned to its nest.
Judy contacted The City of Red Deer and connected with the Parks and Public Works department, Biodiversity section. City staff were extremely responsive as care of these important creatures is a priority. A team from the Urban Forestry Division were immediately dispatched, along with a bucket truck, and arrived on scene to meet Judy.
As mother Ospreys are highly protective of their young, safety was a huge priority. City Arborist, Ryan Pedersen, bravely took on the job of riding in the bucket to make the return. Decked out in a hard hat and armed with some knowledge, Ryan was lifted up in the bucket to reach the nest. As expected, the mother Osprey swooped and dived in her protest, but with the help of a honking horn and quick actions, the baby was placed, a "panic photo" was taken, and Ryan was returned safely to the ground. Judy has since returned to monitor the nest and family, and all is as it should be. Success!
A massive thank you goes out to the team at The City’s Urban Forestry Division. Their quick actions, knowledge of the species, and caring hearts made all the difference in saving this little Osprey.
"Red Deer has three significant natural water courses (a river and two creeks) that cross through our city, making the area home to many different creatures. It’s part of our mandate to look out for all of our community members, including the non-human population,” said Doug Evans, Biodiversity Services Supervisor at The City of Red Deer. "The quick and successful response demonstrates the skills and dedication of Parks staff and says a lot about the importance of local wildlife to Red Deerians, which we’re grateful for.”
