Chautauqua Climate Change Initiative: May 2024
In late March, when Chautauqua still feels locked in the cold embrace of winter, a sign of springtime renewal appears in the sky above us. Having traveled thousands of miles from their wintering grounds in Central or South America, mating pairs of Osprey have returned to Chautauqua Lake. Their appearance is even more remarkable considering that Osprey were nearly wiped out by the devastating effects of DDT. It was only in 2021 that a pair successfully nested and raised a chick near the shores of Chautauqua Lake. As of spring 2024, multiple nesting pairs are now in the region.
Osprey can log upwards of 160,000 migratory miles over their 15–20 year life spans (about two-thirds of the way to the moon, in case you were wondering). They are unique among North American raptors for their diet of live fish and ability to dive into water to catch them. To learn more about Osprey, visit Cornell Lab, or watch a wonderful PBS Nature documentary, Season of the Osprey (2021).
Osprey have a special meaning for Chautauquans, many of whom have worked for years to create a welcoming habitat and document their return. The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC) and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute (RTPI), featuring the work of local photographer Jeanne Wiebenga, are just two examples. Just last month, Chautauqua Institution joined in these efforts by hosting the installation of two new Osprey nesting platforms, one at the Golf Club and one at University Beach, made possible by generous donations from RTPI and supporters of the CWC, and the Chautauqua Bird, Tree & Garden Club. We can’t wait to see who takes up residence!
We could stop here and simply celebrate these amazing, feathered friends. But wait, there’s more! If you’ve read this far, you are among the first to learn about another very special arrival at Chautauqua this summer. Our very own permanent Osprey sculpture created in partnership with our friends at Washed Ashore — Art to Save the Sea.
If you were at Chautauqua last year, you got to witness one of the most incredible outdoor art installations the Institution has ever hosted: Fourteen iconic animal sculptures created by Washed Ashore to raise awareness of, and inspire solutions to, the problem of plastic waste in our environment. Chautauqua hosted multiple education programs in support of the exhibit’s message, including talks by Washed Ashore’s executive director Katie Dougherty and education director Brad Parks, showing of the documentary film Plastic Earth, and lectures by leading microplastics researchers Dr. Sherri (“Sam”) Mason and Dr. Marcus Erikson. We also gave away 2,000 plant-based reuseable water bottles to Chautauquans who signed a plastic reduction pledge.
The Washed Ashore exhibit was so popular that we decided to create our own permanent sculpture, and what better animal to represent us than the majestic Osprey. As I write this, Washed Ashore’s artists and artisans are completing our Osprey sculpture at their workshop along the central Oregon coast. The photo to the right is a “sneak peak” of the work in progress. We are sincerely grateful to the support of donors Jane Batten and Cynny and Mike Evanisko who have made it possible for us to bring this incredible and important artwork to Chautauqua.
Chautauqua’s osprey will arrive in July and a dedication ceremony will be held in August (stay tuned for more details). It will reside at the northwest corner of the Athenaeum Hotel grounds, along the lake across from the Sports Club, where it will be the centerpiece of the Institution’s environmental education and engagement programming for years to come.
Once again, this summer, honoring the message of our Washed Ashore Osprey, we will host multiple educational programs to inspire solutions to the plastic pollution problem, including The Story of Stuff Project (Week Three) and Beyond Plastics (Week Six). And every week on Bestor Plaza we will host giveaways of zero-plastic waste household and personal care products for those who sign (or renew) a plastic reduction pledge.
We can’t wait for you to meet our new “animal ambassador” sculpture this summer who will join what we hope is an ever growing population of live Osprey along the shores of Chautauqua Lake.