Tradeoffs May Counteract Effects of Telecommunication Towers on Osprey Nesting

Authors

• Gage R. Barnes, Murray State University
• Kate G. Slankard, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
• John B. Hewlett, Murray State University
• Andrea K. Darracq, Murray State UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

Spring 2023

Document Type

Article

Citation

Human–Wildlife Interactions (Spring 2023) 17(1): article 6 

doi: 10.26077/65DB-25DE 

Comments

Open access. License: CC BY 4.0

Abstract

The number of telecommunication towers (TCTs) throughout the United States has and continues to increase exponentially. Increased TCT placement has been implicated in local population increases in platform nesting birds such as ospreys (Pandion haliaetus). However, osprey use of artificial structures can cause conflicts with humans because of economic costs and risks to human safety. Managers require better information regarding the effect of artificial nesting surfaces, such as TCTS, on osprey reproduction to make informed decisions regarding species conservation and to mitigate potential conflicts. The objective of our study was to evaluate the influence of TCTs on osprey productivity and adult nesting behaviors. From March to July 2019, we monitored 30 osprey nests located in western Kentucky, USA, on TCTs (n = 11), navigation channel markers (NCMs; n = 10), and natural surfaces (NATs; n = 9). We found no differences in nest success, productivity, or the proportion of male ospreys perched at the nest between surface types. Nests on NCMs received 1.9–2.1 times more fish than nests on NATs and TCTs, respectively. Moreover, NCMs experienced 5.4–8.0 times more disturbances per hour compared to NATs and TCTs, respectively. Our data suggest ospreys nesting on TCTs are productive contributors to local populations. We recommend deterrence of osprey nesting should be focused on locations that are unsafe for ospreys and/or pose insurmountable problems for communication infrastructure.