Neighbors in Northeast Portland say an active osprey nest on a neighborhood cell tower has been deliberately blocked, and residents fear the added hardware is keeping parent birds from reaching their chicks. People who live near the structure in the 5600 block of Northeast 122nd Avenue report seeing a spinning “whirly-gig” device and a fake owl mounted above the nest. Local birders and wildlife photographers say ospreys have used this same tower for years and that the nest currently holds young birds.
Neighbors and crews describe obstruction
Residents told reporters they found the equipment fixed above the nest, and news crews watched ospreys fly toward the tower only to be turned back by the spinning whirly-gig. Neighbors say the setup looks custom-built to drive the birds away rather than something that ended up there by accident. They add that they are now checking home-security systems and neighborhood cameras to see who installed it. According to KOIN, the station contacted Crown Castle, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Bird Alliance of Oregon for responses.
Local and federal protections for active nests
The federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it unlawful to disturb or take active nests of protected migratory species, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service advises people to steer clear of actions that could harm eggs or nestlings. The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services notes that bird nests are protected when they contain eggs or young birds, which in Portland typically occurs in spring and summer. In this case, intentionally blocking adult birds from feeding chicks could prompt a closer look from wildlife authorities.
Longtime nesting site, neighbors hunt for culprit
Local wildlife photographers told KOIN that a pair of ospreys has been returning to this same tower for more than a decade. Neighbors say the sudden appearance of the obstruction reads as a deliberate move, not a random quirk of the structure. People in the area say they have posted alerts in neighborhood groups and are sharing photos with wildlife advocates to help document what happened.
Potential legal exposure
Federal penalties can come into play if authorities determine the nest was unlawfully disturbed. The statute at 16 U.S.C. §707, summarized by Justia, outlines violations and penalties connected to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, including fines and possible jail time for certain offenses. Misdemeanor convictions can carry fines and up to six months in jail, while more serious knowing violations may be charged more severely. Officials would need evidence that the device was intentionally installed to obstruct the nest before deciding whether to pursue enforcement.
How to help the birds
Neighbors say they want anyone with photos or video from the 5600 block of NE 122nd Avenue to hang on to that material and share it with local officials, since any clear footage could matter if wildlife agencies investigate. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends preserving potential evidence, avoiding additional disturbance of active nests and contacting state wildlife officials or an authorized rehabilitator for next steps.
Conflicts between nesting birds and utility structures are not unusual, and in some cases tower owners or utility companies work with wildlife groups to move nests or add safer platforms once nests are inactive. Neighbors say they hope the attention on this case leads to a quick solution for the chicks and a clearer answer about who installed the devices in the first place.
