Children and parents are invited to learn about and watch resident osprey Ollie and Olga during live distance-learning event
As social distancing and stay-at-home orders continue for Oregonians, distance-learning is a great alternative for people to bond over a shared experience and subject. The City of Independence, Pacific Power and The Independence Hotel are offering a live learning and social event through a series of live Q&A events featuring local avian stars, Ollie and Olga. Join the nesting osprey couple and a Pacific Power avian expert this Thursday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to noon to watch the osprey in their natural habitat and learn all about this fascinating bird species. The distance-learning event and 24-hour live stream is available at ospreycam.online.
According to Courtney Williams, Downtown Manager for the City of Independence, the resident bird celebrities put on quite a show for approximately 120 viewers during last week’s Q&A. “Ollie gave us all a wonderful finale when he brought home a freshly caught fish for Olga’s lunch with five minutes left in the Q&A! It is so fascinating watching the osprey interact with each other. Everything from their body movements and migratory habits to how their nest is built and maintained had viewers asking a lot of great questions. We’re looking forward to another engaging round of questions from participants.”
Ollie and Olga’s current 95-foot-tall nesting pole was installed by Pacific Power with help from the City of Independence and The Independence Hotel as a safe place for the osprey to build a nest and raise their chicks during their seasonal stay. Located in Riverview Park near the banks of the Willamette River, this is an ideal location for the osprey. High off the ground safe from predators, Ollie and Olga have easy access to plenty of fish, which is their main diet staple.
Live Q&A Details
- Who: City of Independence, Pacific Power and avian and wildlife experts
- What: Osprey watch and learn event
- When: Thursday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to noon.
- Where: ospreycam.online
Why: For kids and parents to engage with subject matter experts about a unique bird species and its habitat and nesting habits