A bird not in the sand

The taxpayers of Pierce County, Washington can put an osprey on their scorecards;

For several years, the raptors nested on a set of pilings along the park shoreline, but the creosote-soaked poles were removed during a $2.4 million environmental cleanup project last year.

They were living at taxpayer expense then, so;

For the ospreys, the county last spring erected a pole, platform and perch at the south end of the park, not far from the wastewater treatment plant. Officials hoped the breeding pair would move right in.

But they declined because they liked the schools where they were?

The ospreys nested instead on an old concrete structure near the Central Meadow area of the park.

So far, we've got three man made structures that are for the birds. But, now we get the real reason;

County officials had health and safety concerns for both birds and people at that location, especially with thousands of spectators expected to throng to Chambers Bay golf course June 15-21 for the U.S. Open golf championship.

Our bold above, of course. Well, the birds got the message and have moved to the platform on a pole near the wastewater treatment plant. So Phil, Tiger and the boys won't have Osprey poop to deal with after all.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/21/3750224_just-in-time-for-us-open-birds.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy