For as long as I can remember, when I've driven past a certain intersection in north-central Minnesota, I've looked up to view an osprey's nest located on top of a barren scrag (residuum of a storm-damaged red pine, I think). This year I did a double-take because it looked so different. I had to stop the car to study it, and realized that the crag was still there (on the left), but a new structure had arisen, with a huge nest atop it:
A quick search of the 'net after I got back home led me to a news story about the response of some volunteers in the Walker, Minnesota area:
A 30-year-old osprey nest destroyed by high winds last year was successfully replaced March 11 on Onigum Road.Photo of the crew at the link. Here's the location on Google Streetview (turn to the right to see the old nest on the crag).
Thanks to the combined efforts of the Lake Country Power, Leech Lake Reservation Division of Resource Management, Leech Lake Association and Agency Bay Association, the new nest will soon be home to osprey.
Steve Mortensen of the Leech Lake Reservation Division of Resource Management donated the materials for the nest, while the procurement of the pole through Lake Country Power was done with the help of supervisors Jim Hill and Jim Wimmer.
Lake Country Power linemen Paul, Joel and Shannon used a cherrypicker to repair and put up the nest, which is almost 60 feet above the ground.