With only two weeks before St. Patty’s Day and the anticipated return of the ospreys to the Chesapeake, I am saddened to report a calamity that has befallen our old friends, Oscar & Opal Osprey.

The Naval Academy has cleared away both of the double-decker nests built by our intrepid friends in 2001 and in 2003. Not one stick, not one feather or ribbon or bit of detritus remains where two glorious nests once resided.

If  Oscar and Opal do return, as I hope they will, they will have their work cut out for them, building yet a third nest from scratch.

I did check up on the younger generation’s home, Pablo & Pearl’s nest, on the other side of the Academy grounds.  Their nest seems to have been overlooked by the “clean-up” crew.  So, that is some small comfort.

I will keep you posted as further developments unfold.