Osprey Nest Gets Safer Home Atop Bear Mountain Bridge Thanks To Creative Maintenance Crew

A group of determined birds has finally gotten a safe place to nest—thanks to the Bear Mountain Bridge maintenance crew, who built a custom osprey nest platform to prevent debris from falling onto the roadway below.

Thanks to a new nest platform (right), Ospreys will now be able to nest on the Bear Mountain Bridge without knocking branches onto the roadway below.
Photo Credit: *New York State Bridge Authority*

Ben Crnic

03/31/2025 2:10 p.m.

The New York State Bridge Authority gave a shout-out on Thursday, March 27, to its Bear Mountain Bridge Maintenance Crew for their creative and eco-friendly solution to a growing issue involving osprey nesting atop the bridge tower.

According to officials, in recent years, the large birds have persistently tried to build nests at the top of the bridge, which spans from the Westchester County town of Cortlandt to Bear Mountain State Park in Orange County.

This has led to branches and sticks falling onto the roadway, creating potential hazards for passing vehicles, the Bridge Authority said.

In the past, maintenance crews had to climb the tower and remove the nests, provided there were no eggs inside.

But this year, instead of dismantling nests, the crew decided to work with nature.

Under the guidance of its manager, the team fabricated a dedicated osprey nest platform at the top of the bridge—giving the birds a safer, more secure place to settle.

"The Osprey is in full-nest building mode today! Along with our Peregrine Falcons (which we hear Osprey and Peregrines often nest in the same areas)" the department wrote in a social media post on Thursday.

The Bridge Authority promised to share more updates—and hopefully glimpses of baby chicks—in the coming weeks.

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