Natality in the area of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station (MNPS) 

 began to Increase when an egg transfer plan was Implemented in 1969, 

 Eggs from the nests of less threatened osprey of the Chesapeake Bay were 

 exchanged for those of local birds. Since then, osprey production at 

 MNPS has been enhanced by increasing the number of available nesting 

 platforms. Current rates of reproduction are equal to those of the 

 pre-DDT era; this increase in the osprey population appears strongly 

 dependent on the number of artificial nesting sites erected to attract 

 nesting pairs (Spitzer et al. 1983). The oldest nesting platform at 

 MNPS, erected in 1967, is located atop the eastern rim of the granite 

 quarry. A second platform was erected in 197A on the southern edge of 

 the wildlife refuge, a 50 acre site set aside by Northeast Utilities as 

 a conservation area. These platforms have attracted ospreys and these 

 birds have produced young every year since 1976. In 1979, a nesting 

 platform was erected on Fox Island. To date, this site has not 

 attracted a nesting pair of osprey; however, it is used quite frequently 

 as a roosting and feeding site for the adults and young of the Quarry 

 nest. 



This year, two additional nesting platforms were erected on the 

 Millstone site, bringing the number of platforms to five. These new 

 platforms differ slightly from the existing three In that they are set 

 on top of a 14' X 4" X 4" pressure treated post rather than a 30' 

 utility pole. The new platforms are similar to those used by the State 

 of Connecticut in their nesting program. One of the new 

 platforms was located in a marsh on the eastern edge of the wildlife 

 refuge. The second platform was placed on the west side of the plant 

 near Niantic Bay just north of Bay Point. 



In 1983, osprey returned to MNPS on March 28; one individual was 

 observed in the nest located in the Wildlife area; on April 4, a pair 

 returned to the Quarry nest. Nest rebuilding and mating attempts were 

 observed at the Quarry nest shortly thereafter. The mate of the bird 

 observed in the Wildlife area was not seen until late April. All other 

 platforms remained inactive. 



Three young were counted in the Wildlife area nest on June 16, 

 using a bucket truck to make observations. The Quarry nest is relatively 



