The Milford Land Conservation Trust installed an osprey nest platform at Gulf Pond to mark its 50th anniversary. Photo courtesy of Wendy Zimbardi.
The Milford Land Conservation Trust ushered in its 50th anniversary recently with the installation of an osprey nesting platform on Gulf Pond that it hopes will attract an osprey family beginning this month. The local nonprofit group was founded in 1971.
With an environmental funding grant from the Milford Environmental Protection Initiative, members of the MLCT gathered on a Sunday morning behind Joe’s Carpet on New Haven Avenue to build a 20-foot-tall platform stand with supports.
The project took volunteers less than one-and-a-half hours to construct. It was the 102nd such installation the group has done since it was founded in 1971. The event was capped off by a surprise birthday cake for volunteer Ed Haesche to also celebrate his 100th installation.
“The nesting platform is a natural fit for the land trust given the diversity of our portfolio which includes open spaces, marshes, woodlands, ponds and river lands,” said MLCT President Joseph DeSisto Alling. “We have an affinity for migratory and shore birds as well. We are delighted that one of our board members took the initiative and wrote the grant that made this project a reality. There are many bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts in Milford, and the osprey are extremely popular with the birding community.”
Osprey, also known as fish-eating raptors, grow to be five-pound birds with six-foot wing spans and feed primarily on fish. They winter in the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Mexico, and return north in March to breed. The timing of the platform building is meant to attract a female and prospective mate.
Wendy Zimbardi, MLCT vice president, was instrumental in planning and working out the logistics, and was on hand to take pictures along with her husband, Steve, who recorded the event, and their son Jack. The video can be seen on YouTube.
“This was a wonderful cooperative effort by volunteers to install a platform that will be in a safer location than the previous nest atop a catenary pole across the street,” Zimbardi said. “We would like to thank Mrs. Jaser and her family of Joe’s Carpet who have been so supportive of our efforts.”
The MLCT will hold its 50th anniversary annual meeting on May 13 at 7 p.m. The meeting will include a featured speaker and election of officers. The public is invited to attend by sending an email indicating interest to info@milfordctlandtrust.org. You will receive a secure Zoom link for the annual meeting. For further information about membership or to volunteer, visit milfordctlandtrust.org.