THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 10, 1994 TAG: 9407080304
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Diamond Springs residents banded together last week to rescue two baby osprey after lightning knocked their tree and nest into Lake Smith.
Charles Garcia and Steve Lemond were fishing Monday evening when they noticed the osprey material had fallen into the lake. ``I figured something was in distress and wanted to do a good deed,'' Garcia said. ``We're all animal lovers out here.
``I knew that nest had been out there and figured it was the osprey. It was the right thing to do.''
Lemond said they scooped the 45- to 50-day-old birds out of the water and brought them back to Garcia's house. At that point, they were not sure where the birds' parents were or how to take care of the osprey.
``We knew they were protected birds,'' Lemond said. ``We didn't know what to do and started calling people. Animal control was our last resort.'' They were finally able to reach Wildlife Control and raptor expert Jerry Lehr, who lives in the neighborhood.
Lehr picked up the osprey and contacted osprey expert Resse Lukei and the two worked together to build a nine-foot-tall wooden platform for the birds. The platform was built in Glenda Lane's back yard, which has a view of the osprey's original home.
Lane said she was happy to help with the rescue effort.
She and daughters Renee and Jennifer watched the baby osprey like hawks, Lane said. They also fished in Lake Smith to make sure the birds had food. The mother osprey showed up the day after the rescue and continued to fly overhead, watching her young's activities and encouraging them to fly, but she would not land on the platform.
On Tuesday, the young osprey attempted the flight across the lake. Osprey normally start flying around 52 days. The first bird made the almost 100-yard flight, but the other was not so lucky.
``When it first took off it looked like it was going to make it,'' Lane said, but it fell into the water. Garcia rescued the bird for the second time and reunited it with its family on the other side of the lake.
Nearly everyone in the community was interested in the birds' welfare, Lane said. ``I've already gotten attached to them,'' Lane said. ``I never realized so many different things about birds.''
Lukei said he was impressed with the community's effort to save the osprey. ``People did everything right as far as getting the birds in the nest,'' he said.
Often, human interference leaves wildlife dead, Lukei said. ``The last thing you want to have to do is take care of them. These people did exactly what they should have done.''
The platform was moved to the other side of the lake, and the osprey are now doing fine, Lukei said. Neighbors keep tabs on the birds' activities with a telescope and regular trips to the platform.
``The fact they're both back with their parents is the best thing. That's the main goal,'' Lukei said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by CHARLIE MEADS
Steve LeMond, left, and Charles Garcia rescued two young osprey from
Lake Smith and contacted Wildlife Control, which built a nesting
platform.
One of the two young osprey rescued from Lake Smith after a storm
blew their nesting tree down sits on a tree limb overlooking the
lake. Their parents still bring them fish to feed on.
by CNB