In 1997, PPL employees partnered with a local Boy Scout to build nesting sites to attract ospreys back to the area.

The following year, a pair of ospreys took up residence at the nest site by the Wallenpaupack Dam and two chicks were born, marking a successful nesting site. The annual return of the ospreys is noted by the local newspaper and attracts the attention of many local observers and photographers.

Katie Gill and Meg Welker, based at PPL’s Lake Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center, provide updates on the ospreys’ comings and goings.

	07/21/2208 Early morning workouts What incredible timing! I knew that the osprey young would be getting ready to take flight any day now. When I arrived at the overlook, the two young were in the nest preening, cleaning and arranging their feathers. After a few minutes, one started to perch on the edge of the nest and flap its wings, feeling the wind beneath them. All of a sudden it leapt off the nest and flew around the cove in a few circles, while the other looked on and yelled. After a few minutes of playing, the newly flying osprey landed back in the nest and the other one began to practice stretching its wings. It was simply amazing to watch.   The young osprey are noticeably lighter than the adults because of their mottled feathers. They also both have a very distinct blonde spot on the back of their heads. Keep your eyes to the skies when stopping at the overlook. You might catch them flying around!
	07/10/08 They grow up so quickly The osprey chicks are growing like weeds. This photo shows an adult osprey on the left bringing sticks into the nest and one of the two young on the right. You can see just how large they are already! In another two weeks, the young will develop their flight feathers and will begin to practice lifting their wings to feel the wind underneath them. By late July to early August, they will take their first flight.
	06/24/2008 An exciting time I stopped at the overlook early this morning to check on the osprey. I've been trying to catch a shot of the young but haven't had any luck. At one month old, the young ospreys are now moving around the nest and spreading their wings. You can see one of the young osprey on the left in this photo. They already have the distinct white head with black eye bands. The adults take turns watching over the young and fishing for food. I got there just in time this morning to see one of the adults fly into the nest with a fish and rip it apart. This is a very exciting time and they will continue to become more active around the nest in the coming weeks before they fledge.
	06/06/2008 What a show! Today on my lunch break I stopped by the overlook in the hopes of catching a glimpse of a young osprey head poking above the nest. Was I in for a show! One adult was sitting on the nest, no little ones to be seen. Another adult osprey began to fly into the area clutching a fish when a third adult flew over and attacked the adult in mid-air. I can only assume that this was an attempt to steal its hard-earned meal.   The two continued to battle in mid-air for at least 15 minutes while the adult on the nest screamed endlessly with a high-pitched chirp. The entire time, the adult held onto the fish, never letting go. After circling high above and chasing each other, the adult with the fish tucked its wings tight and dove down and into the nest. Both adults in the nest continued to carefully watch the "rogue" adult circling above. The attentive adult in the nest then loosened his/her grip on the young chicks below and proceeded to rip apart the fish and feed. It was then that two very distinct dark heads popped up looking for food. What a treat!!
	05/27/2008 New additions After returning from the Memorial Day holiday, it is apparent that the osprey eggs have almost certainly hatched. Both adults are spending a lot of time in the nest, carefully walking around and dipping their heads down low inside. Keep your eyes out for feeding time, and within a couple weeks you will be able to see some fuzzy little heads begin to poke up above the edge of the nest!
	04/30/2008 Great expectations The female osprey has been sitting very low in the nest for almost a week now. This indicates that she has probably laid eggs. We should expect them to hatch around the last week of May.
	04/24/2008 Gone fishin' I had the opportunity to observe one of the adult ospreys carry a fish to the top of the dam late this afternoon and then proceed to pick it apart. The other adult has been spending an awful lot of time in the nest at the Route 590 overlook. The bird has been busy fussing with sticks in the nest, constantly rearranging them. I think she might be laying eggs soon.
	04/17/2008 Possible power struggle While out watching a loon on the lake this morning, I witnessed a pair of osprey flying around the dam. Just then, another pair of adult osprey came by chasing an immature eagle out of the area. It looks like there might be a power struggle over who gets to nest in the area. A pair of osprey already nests at the lake. This second pair may be the young from last year or another pair looking for a place to nest. Because they are not banded, we can't be sure.
	04/11/2008 A good day for birding What a great birding day at Lake Wallenpaupack! As I was watching three loons swim around in Mangan Cove, diving occasionally for some food, the ospreys were busily carrying more sticks up to the nesting platform at the Route 590 overlook. At one point in late morning, I witnessed some mating behavior, complete with flapping wings and shrill calls! Over the next few weeks, we'll be watching closely for signs that the birds are sitting on eggs.
	04/09/2008 Building the nest We saw an osprey flying toward the nesting platform by the Wallenpaupack Dam carrying sticks in its talons for nest-building. Two ospreys were observed on the Route 590 nest together on several occasions and have also been seen on the newer nesting platform near the Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center parking lot. This second platform was erected in the fall of 2006 after the pair began to build a nest on a crane. The platform now serves as an alternative location.
	03/24/2008 Checking things out Two adults were seen in the new nest. Ten minutes later, one was spotted in the old nest. They seem to be comparing nests again.
	03/20/2008 First osprey of the season is spotted One adult osprey was spotted flying over the dam and Route 6 at 10:30 a.m.