Our Ospreys
As the Jamie Durie family builds their family home on the Pittwater in Avalon.
It appears a different family has decided to move in first.
Perched on top of the crane (which is meant to be used for Jamie’s Growing Home construction)
our feathered friends are busy creating their own family.
Watch the Livestream.
Click image below
Our Ospreys
As the Jamie Durie family builds their family home on the Pittwater in Avalon.
It appears a different family has decided to move in first.
Perched on top of the crane (which is meant to be used for Jamie’s Growing Home build) our feathered friends are busy creating their own family.
WATCH THE LIVESTREAM OF OUR LOCAL OSPREY
The story so far…
Jamie Durie’s 'Growing Home' Captures Unexpected Wildlife Drama in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Sydney, Australia – 9th August, 2024
Acclaimed television personality and environmentalist Jamie Durie is taking his passion for sustainability and nature conservation to new heights—literally. Collaborating with Rawkus and Channel 7, what began as a television series, documenting the construction of his sustainable home in Avalon in Sydney’s northern beaches, has revealed an unexpected and inspiring
wildlife story.
Jamie, known for his dedication to the environment, has been meticulously working to preserve the native trees on his property while incorporating the latest sustainable technologies into his home design. However, the unique topography of his building site required the installation of a 42-metre crane, setting the stage for an extraordinary encounter.
Incredibly, a pair of eastern ospreys chose the crane’s counterweight as the site for their nest, just weeks after its installation. There are only about 7 nesting pairs of the threatened species in Sydney's northern beaches, and recognising the significance of the event, Jamie applied to the local council for permission to install a nesting pole on his property, hoping to provide a permanent home for the birds. Unfortunately, the application was denied.
Faced with the dilemma of not wanting to disrupt the osprey’s breeding season while also needing to dismantle the crane, Jamie sought a permit to safely remove the nest before the birds began laying eggs. In collaboration with the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the nest was removed in July.
But nature had other plans. Just a few weeks later, the resilient osprey rebuilt their nest on the crane. With breeding season fast approaching, Jamie made the decision to keep the crane in place until the chicks have hatched and left the nest.
To share this rare and beautiful moment with the world, a camera has been installed to livestream the osprey’s journey on the Growing Home YouTube channel. Now, nature enthusiasts and viewers everywhere can witness this remarkable footage of these majestic birds raising their family against the stunning backdrop of Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Growing Home offers a unique blend of home-building challenges and environmental stewardship, showcasing Jamie Durie’s commitment to building sustainably and living harmoniously with nature.
Watch the story unfold, and be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience by clicking the link above.
A bit about the Eastern Osprey
Did you know there are only 7 recorded breeding pairs on Sydney’s Northern Beaches?
The Osprey is a medium-sized fish-eating raptor (bird of prey).
Average size: 50-65cm length.
Wing span: 1.7m
Average weight: 1.25kg
Breeding Season: April – November
Clutch Size: 2-3 eggs
Incubation period: 33-38 days
Chicks fledge: 55-60 days.
Habitat:
Ospreys are found on the coast and in terrestrial wetlands of tropical and temperate Australia and off-shore islands, occasionally ranging inland along rivers, though mainly in the north of the country.
Seasonal movements:
Ospreys are sedentary, although they will range more freely in non-breeding periods. They are frequently faithful to a nest site, using the nest for many years. Young birds may disperse 20 km - 400 km. In Europe, Ospreys are migratory, moving to warmer countries in the winter.
Feeding:
The Osprey feeds mainly on medium-sized live fish, which it does not swallow whole, but rips apart to eat. The Osprey patrols the coast, searching for prey. It folds its wings, then drops headlong, with its feet forward to snatch a fish with its talons. It may go right under the water or snatch a fish from the surface, before lifting off again, with strong wing strokes.
Breeding:
The Osprey may use the same nest year after year. The nest is made from sticks and driftwood and may be huge after many years. It is usually placed on a cliff, a dead tree or even a radio mast. Both birds bring sticks, but the female usually places the sticks in the nest. The nest is lined with grass, seaweed or bark. The female does most of the incubation, while the male brings food to the nest.
Living with us:
Many young Ospreys become entangled in nets or seaweed and drown. Ospreys readily use artificial nesting platforms. Their fish prey may be contaminated by pesticides.
How can we help?
Plant and preserve trees around our waterways and wetlands
Pick up litter around our waterways
Support sustainable fishing practices
Discard fishing lines and hooks in rubbish bins.