(Spirit Lake)– Dickinson county has been selected by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources as a release site for young osprey this coming summer.
Dickinson County Naturalist Barbara Tagomi says it stems from the successful upraising of an osprey chick several years ago at a nesting site on a pole near the Spirit Lake Elementary and Middle Schools.
Tagomi says the project will include constructing a “hacking” tower in early spring, with the young osprey arriving from Wisconsin and Minnesota in mid-July. She says the young birds will be fed for six weeks through mid-August.
Tagomi says the “hacking” tower will be built near a wetland adjacent to the Dickinson County Nature Center at Kenue Park.
She adds the project will be a community effort, with funding, construction of the tower and care of the osprey being provided by local residents. Tagomi says they’re in the process right now of fundraising. Anyone interested or wanting more information should contact Tagomi at 330-1080.
A public meeting about the project is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 9th at the Fish Hatchery in Orleans.
