In Milwaukie, Oregon, a frequent bird watcher had been walking through Rivervilla Park, checking out the beautiful sights of birds and waterfowl that call the area home. Often spotted in the area are the beautiful eagles and osprey circling overhead returning to their nests from previous years, to raise another family.
Ospreys are amazing to watch, and they are also protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which deems it illegal to kill, capture, transport or disturb migratory birds or their nests with eggs without a special permit. Violations to the act can result in large fines, and/or jail terms. Ospreys and eagles will commonly return to their nests year after year to lay their eggs and raise their young.
According to KgwaNews, a birdwatcher named Ed (he asked his last name not be used) had been coming to the same area for years to watch the amazing sights. One family of ospreys had an active nest near the train bridge, and every year the birds would return to lay their eggs.
It was where Ed spotted a man and two of his friends walking along the train bridge. One of the men climbed over the truss and approached the nest. And then … he bent down and appeared to have stolen one or two of the eggs!
Studies have shown that approaching a nest can be harmful.
ospreys may abandon their nests if humans get too close. Ospreys are territorial and will defend their nests from potential predators, including humans. When threatened by humans, ospreys may flush off the nest, leaving their eggs and chicks exposed to the elements and predators. The eggs can chill and fail without the warmth of the parent bird…
Ed was furious. Why in the world would this man steal osprey eggs? The eggs are about the size of a golf ball and a half. The man may have had more than one egg in his hand Ed reported. The chicks won’t survive without their parent incubating the eggs.
Ed took photos and sent them to the Oregon State Police who have since transferred the information to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Really, what special kind of jerk does something like that? Let’s hope he is recognized, arrested and found guilty.
(Photos via screenshots submitted by Ed to Kgwa News)
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