MILWAUKIE, Ore. — An unsettling incident occurred recently at Rivervilla Park in Milwaukie, where wildlife enthusiast Ed, who prefers not to disclose his last name, has regularly observed the local bird population, including nesting ospreys and soaring bald eagles.
Ed has been a resident of the area for six years and has delighted in watching the return of ospreys each spring as they prepare to raise their young.
However, this routine enjoyment was marred by a shocking episode he witnessed while out on his usual walk.
While strolling through the park, Ed noticed a trio of individuals walking along the train tracks.
One of the men climbed the truss of a nearby bridge and approached the osprey nest nestled above.
To Ed’s astonishment, the man reached into the nest and retrieved an osprey egg.
Shocked and angered by this act, Ed questioned the motives behind such a deed.
“As a birder and a person who appreciates wildlife and nature, I can’t believe this guy’s doing this … and then, what for? What is the purpose of taking an osprey egg from there?” expressed Ed.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Ed documented the encounter with photographs and reported it to the Oregon State Police.
The police subsequently forwarded the investigation to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, highlighting the gravity of the alleged act.
Ospreys are legally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits the killing, capturing, transporting, or disturbing of migratory birds and their eggs without authorization.
Violating this act can lead to severe penalties, including significant fines and potential jail time.
Micah Meskel from the Bird Alliance of Oregon echoed Ed’s concern, noting the dire consequences such actions could have on bird populations.
“Taking an egg means that egg is dying. That means that adult that laid those eggs is no longer going to be able to raise its young or be able to procreate,” Meskel explained.
In addition to the immediate harm of egg theft, even approaching a nest can disrupt the birds, particularly raptors like ospreys.
“They’re very protective of their nest. When a predator like a human approaches, they will both try to protect it, but they also may avoid that space because they deem it as a hazard to them and their young,” Meskel added.
He described osprey eggs as being roughly the size of a golf ball and a half, indicating the possibility that the man may have taken one or two eggs during the incident.
While Ed’s photographs suggest that an egg was indeed taken from the nest, the precise number of eggs removed remains uncertain.
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