Baby Osprey ‘Bubba’ Survives 55-Foot Fall in Hampton Bays

Quick Take

• A 55-foot fall should have ended badly, but find out how a trio of rescuers pulled off a miracle save. See the rescue story →
• Light poles might be the perfect place for an osprey nest, and the reasoning behind that turns out to be more strategic than you'd think. Learn about osprey nesting →
• Before a young osprey ever flies, it masters a move that looks nothing like flying. That move turns out to be the key to survival. Discover the pre-flight move →
• The chick got a name tied to a community member, and the story behind that name adds an unexpected layer to this rescue. Meet Bubba the chick →

An admirable community rescue attempt has saved the life of an osprey chick in Hampton Bays, New York. Thanks to a wildlife rescue center, the town highway department, and the local school district, this little fledgling gets to have another shot at life!

Osprey Fledgling Rescue in Southampton, NY

An osprey fledgling took a 55-foot tumble from its nest on a light pole at Hampton Bays High School. In a wonderful example of a community working together, he was scooped up by a bucket truck and placed back into his nest. The Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center, Southampton Town Highway Department, and Hampton Bays School District all worked together to bring about this happy conclusion. Everyone was very relieved to see the mother osprey return a few moments later to tend to her chick, who appeared healthy and uninjured by his adventure.

The Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the rehabilitation of wild animals impacted by the encroachment of humans on their habitat. They have a fully operational wildlife hospital complete with an examination room and aviary. “’Bubba,’ the name given to the chick in honor of beloved community member Michael DeRosa, was examined by the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center and found to be healthy, so he was returned directly to the nest without needing further rehabilitation.

How Do Ospreys Fledge?

Fledging is the stage in a young bird’s life between hatching and being capable of flight. We say that a bird has fledged when their feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. A young bird that has recently fledged but is still dependent upon parental care and feeding is called a fledgling.

Ospreys will live almost anywhere that they can nest safely. Nests are usually found within three miles of some shallow water with abundant fish. Ospreys nest on any structure that can support their bulky nest and that a predator cannot climb up. So, a light pole is a good option! These birds can also be seen nesting on communication towers, buildings, and even billboards.

At first, the osprey chicks are covered in white down with brown streaks on the face, back, and wings. However, this is replaced by charcoal-colored down, and by around two weeks, they have feathers. Osprey chicks fledge at between 48 and 76 days old. They build up their flight muscles using repeated wing flapping. Also, they use a technique called ‘helicoptering’ where the young osprey uses its wings to lift off and hover above the nest for a few seconds. Eventually, the chicks take their first controlled flight to a perch outside the nest. It’s both exciting and risky! Luckily for Bubba, there were some kind humans around to help him out.