Osprey mom and dad back in Milford with help from United Illuminating Co.

The United Illuminating Co. said in a release that a lightning strike last year on a "temporarily placed insulating sleeves" around wires in Milford killed two fledgling ospreys but the adult birds survived.

The good news:  Carol Dunn, a volunteer osprey monitor for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, an "egg was laid in April and the approximate month-long incubation period is nearing its end. The nest located on the new UI perch is expected to hatch results early June."

"Osprey birds are common in the Northeast and often look for nesting areas at high peaks. Just a year ago, UI worked with (the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)  and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a temporary solution to protect these particular birds during their mating season," by placing the sleeves on the wires, the statement said. 

 "Unfortunately, during a storm, a lightning strike destroyed the nest, fatally wounding the two fledglings and leaving the residents in the immediate area without power." 

"Since ospreys are typically wed to the same nesting site and return year after year, UI took action by installing a new nesting platform in the vicinity of the former nest to protect the returning mates and to help prevent another incident."

“Because of the osprey’s natural instinct to return to their original nesting location, UI felt it was important to take steps to safely accommodate both the birds’ needs and address the public’s safety.  We are pleased that with assistance from CT DEEP this effort resulted in a success story for all,” said Shawn Crosbie, UIL environmental analyst, also in the statement. “The adults came back sometime in April, nested on the UI platform and now from what we can see there is at least one egg in the nest.”

UI, "works to find solutions and strategies that will minimize danger to the public and to wildlife alike," the statement said

                                                                           

Editor's note: All information and the photos in this post were contributed. Click one of the buttons below to share it.