SA locals working alongside conservationists to save the endangered Eastern Osprey

A big bird delivering a safe haven for one of SA's rarest big birds. This new platform at Port Neal, one of eighteen across the state for the endangered eastern osprey to call home. They're a substitute for natural nesting habitats eroded by coastal development and in some cases Cliff collapses. All the coastline around here, there aren't any big trees, so any high places for them to nest. Unfortunately, shags also like the places, the resting spots, so they land on it and pull the nest bits and became a bit of a tug of war. The conservation project takes a community effort in towns across the state. The structures are made by Men Shed volunteers on the York Peninsula and others build the starters nests at Smoky Bay. The oyster farmers, we at one stage we had three oyster boats and crew out there giving us a hand and same at at Streaky we had oyster boats, we had members of the community and at port near we had the men's shed there. It is thought there are only 50 pairs of Eastern Osprey in the wild in SA. When we put this tear in that we have now, within an hour and a half, there are two Ospreys sitting on it, which was pretty thrilling really, to think that we'd done something that was going to be helpful for them. Most people now around SA know what an Osprey is. They know that they're in trouble and that there is a commitment to helping them recover. The last platform that season is being installed here at Talkers South of Port Lincoln. The locals will be keeping a close eye on in coming months, hoping for some eggs later in the year. The other platforms are already breeding success. The total number of chicks that the platforms have produced is is 14, and there's no question at all that we wouldn't have an additional 14 osprey chicks flying around the environment if what weren't for these artificial platforms. The graceful birds are bringing tourists to small coastal communities. Well, right from those time I'll put the nest on the navigation pole. Everyone could it was only like 200 metres out from the. Shore and everyone was going there and people were calling in and taking photos. We're all hoping we got our fingers crossed for this year. Bit of a romance happens and we get to see some fledglings. Yeah, we good.