The Day The Nest Fell
January 23, 2025 – A Thursday to Remember
It started as an ordinary morning. The usual scene unfolded along the foreshore park – people walking dogs, pushing prams, running, swimming, sipping coffee, and snapping selfies. From 7:00 to 9:00 AM as I observed the Osprey at their nest, life moved as expected. People around seemingly unaware of the devastation about to unfold.
By 9:30, there was a dramatic change as wild winds driving white sheets of rain swept the Tweed Coast, felling trees and flooding streets. And the nest fell.
An anonymous observer, taking shelter in their vehicle near the nesting site at 9:45 described the chaos: “It was a whiteout! Rain was going sideways… it was impossible to see.” As the storm eased, a pile of sticks lay beside the tower. Instinctively, they looked up to see that the nest was gone.
A Much Loved Icon
Perched 19 metres above the estuary, the nest was an architectural marvel and icon of Cudgen Creek. Growing in stature with every season since 2016, it weathered countless storms.
In contrast, the metal support structure for the nest was weakened by corrosion over this time, ultimately failing under the gale- force winds.
According to the ABC News , the unexpected morning storm took many by surprise. Wind speeds reached 118 km/h at Cape Byron, leaving 25,000 homes and businesses without power. The State Emergency Service fielded over 140 calls for assistance.
Tweed Shire Council acted swiftly to attend the scene and devise a plan to replace the fallen structure with a new robust aluminium cradle to better withstand the elements and provide a stable base for the Osprey to rebuild their nest.
What’s In A Nest?
Beyond the expected sticks and fishbones, the fallen nest revealed a fascinating collection of debris – a treasure trove meticulously gathered over the years by the breeding pair and their chicks.
Among the finds: pumice stones, pinecones, banksia pods, pine fronds, pandanus palm leaves, pandanus palm seeds, all kinds of seashells, driftwood, types of seaweed, a lone thong, a bamboo spoon, and strands of colourful string.
The Osprey family took shelter in the Casuarina trees on the southside of the creek roosting below the Cormorants, as they often did.
In the days that followed, they returned to roost – at the space their nest had occupied on top of the pole. Bringing sticks to start rebuilding, it seemed they were unsure how without the cradle.
Tweed Shire Council announced plans to reallocate a new robust, aluminium structure on Tuesday 4th February.
Raising The Cradle
Tuesday 4 February 2025
Tweed Shire Council crews worked diligently to install the new cradle. Every obstacle was overcome, and the platform stood ready.
I watched and waited for the Osprey to return to roost on their new cradle. Yet, that afternoon they chose to remain in the Casuarina tree on the south wall, dining on a good catch just before nightfall.
By 7:00 AM on Wednesday, February 5th, the wait was over. Three Ospreys had returned, reclaiming their home atop the newly raised platform. The young female, Odette, gathered sticks, carefully arranging them within the cradle. Below, another bathed in the gentle ebb of the low tide against the sandbar, while the third perched on the nest’s rim, surveying their restored domain.
With each passing day, the nest grows, and the Ospreys continue to thrive.
