Save Our Seabirds releases rehabbed osprey at Bayfront Park

Save Our Seabirds recently released an osprey at Bayfront Park, marking a success story made possible by a collaborative network. 

In June, SOS received a call about an injured osprey that was near the main road by the New Pass Bridge. The osprey was unable to fly, and the Longboat Key Police Department arrived on scene to help keep the osprey off the road and out of harm’s way until SOS arrived. 

SOS volunteer rescuers Ray and Heather Sellers arrived to meet with the caller and the responding officer. The team was able to rescue the bird and transport it to the SOS facility to be evaluated and rehabilitated. 

“Without the caller, LBK Police or SOS, the following would not be possible,” SOS said in a video published on its Facebook page. 

According to SOS, there was a concern that the osprey could have had a broken wing given how it was found unable to fly. However, the team discovered that the bird was just bruised and sore, which could have been due to a territory fight with another osprey. 

The osprey spent a month at SOS receiving rehabilitative care, and then was cleared to be released back in the wild. 

It was transported to Bayfront Park, where the osprey was able to spread its wings and return home.