Tuesday, December 16th, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge celebrated a meaningful conservation milestone with the successful installation of a new osprey nesting platform. This project was coordinated by Friends of Malheur Director, Janelle Wicks, who brought together local students, community partners, and Refuge staff in support of wildlife through hands-on learning.
The nesting platform replaced an insufficient nesting apparatus that was in fact simply the remains of abandoned utility infrastructure on a pole that had previously experienced an electrical fire. In preparation for the new platform Refuge Maintenance employee Zackary McCoy straightened the pole and secured it with over 1,000 pounds of concrete.
While Zackary was preparing the site, students at Burns High School led by instructor Shawn Horrell utilized construction plans provided by Idaho Power to build the nesting platform. After building the platform, Shawn secured a mini-bus and drove his students to the project site to deliver it and give the youth an opportunity to see their hard work quite literally lifted into place. As the structure rose, students reflected on the teamwork and effort that made the project possible. Burns High School student Triston DeCroo shared, ‘everyone involved worked really hard to make the platform.” This sentiment was echoed throughout the group.
It was Harney County Electric Cooperative (HCEC), who did the heavy lifting of safely putting the platform in place using two bucket trucks. The crew carefully removed old debris and cut off the top of the pole damaged by the electrical fire before finally putting the structure in place.
As student Kenneth Starbuck noted, he was ‘pretty happy to see the project getting done,’ adding that the students ‘worked hard to build it and now it’s finally going up.’
Ospreys are migratory raptors that rely on elevated nesting sites near water, and platforms like this one play an important role in supporting successful breeding while promoting coexistence between wildlife and human infrastructure. Kaleb DeCroo explained that through the process he learned a great deal about the birds, particularly how they build their nests. By providing a sturdy platform, he said, this gives ospreys a start—a place to build a nest and a home.
Perhaps most meaningful is the lasting connection this project has created between local youth and the Refuge. When asked if he would return to see whether ospreys use the platform, Noah Starbuck answered simply and enthusiastically: yes.
This installation reflects the Refuge’s commitment to habitat stewardship while also investing in education and community engagement.
The Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge extend sincere thanks to Shawn Horrell and his Woods 2 Class for their dedication and craftsmanship, and to Harney County Electric Cooperative for their expertise and support in installing the platform. We also want to shine a light on the consultation and guidance provided by the Eastern Oregon Osprey Center and Idaho Power. Projects like this demonstrate what is possible when community partners come together to support wildlife and inspire the next generation of conservation stewards.
We look forward to welcoming back the osprey pair who nest at this site year after year this spring. And we hope many of the students who helped build this platform and their families will return to see the results of their work.
