Firefighters Free Protected Osprey Tangled in Tree

A trapped osprey got a second chance at flight last week thanks to quick-thinking Port Washington firefighters who scaled a tree to free the endangered bird from tangled fishing line.

On April 8, a Sands Point homeowner noticed the osprey struggling high in a tree, hopelessly tangled in fishing line. After wildlife groups couldn't respond that day, a licensed rescuer advised calling the fire department for help.

The next morning, the Atlantic Hook & Ladder Co. 1 arrived with their ladder truck. Three firefighters carefully positioned the truck and extended the ladder toward the distressed bird, inching closer with precision.

Once they reached the osprey, the team trimmed surrounding branches before using a chainsaw to remove a section of the tree. They gently lowered the bird and cut the fishing line from its feet, then handed it to Bobby Horvath, a New York State licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Horvath took the osprey to his organization, Wildlife In Need Of Rescue & Rehabilitation, where it's now recovering. Once fully healed, the bird will return to the wild.

The Bright Side

This rescue represents more than one bird saved. Ospreys nearly disappeared in the 1970s when the pesticide DDT devastated breeding attempts worldwide, pushing them to the brink of extinction.

New York listed them as endangered in 1976. Thanks to the DDT ban and conservation efforts, ospreys gradually recovered, moving to threatened status in 1983 and special concern in 1999.

Today, ospreys remain protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits killing, possessing, or harming these magnificent raptors. Organizations like the Group for the East End continue working to ensure their survival.

Ex-Chief Brian Waterson, now the fire department's prevention officer, explained that while they don't typically rescue cats from trees, this situation was different. The homeowner recognized something was wrong, and because ospreys are protected, the department took action.

Assistant Chief Patrick Saccoccia commanded the operation, with multiple firefighters on scene ensuring everyone's safety. Their coordinated effort gave this osprey another shot at soaring through Long Island skies.