A state-of-the-art school and an apex predator have had an unexpected collision on the football field. The Apple Valley High School Eagles in Minnesota have been forced to alter their schedule due to the presence of a federally protected osprey nest located on a stadium light pole. The decision to play daytime games only comes from the need to avoid disturbing the birds, whose chicks have already taken their first flights.
“When you tell someone this story of ‘Wow, we have to reschedule because there’s an osprey nest in our stadium,’ they’re like, ‘You can’t make this type of stuff up, right?’” said Cory Hanson, the school’s athletic director. The school has been using a drone to monitor the nest’s progress and plans to relocate the nest to a different platform once the chicks have fled.
Heidi Cyr of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources explained that while the department sometimes issues nest removal permits for critical infrastructure, these permits are typically denied if chicks are still present. The ospreys, a species that had previously been listed as special concern in Minnesota, were removed from that list in 2015 after population efforts showed success.
The situation highlights the complex relationship between human activity and wildlife conservation. While the football team’s schedule has been disrupted, the preservation of a federally protected species has taken precedence. The school is currently working with wildlife experts to find a solution that minimizes impact on both the team and the ospreys.
Other schools have offered assistance in finding alternative game locations and times, demonstrating the potential for cooperation between institutions and wildlife preservation efforts. The case of the Apple Valley Eagles serves as a reminder of how even the most unexpected circumstances can disrupt the normal course of events in the world of sports.
“When you see these large birds flying across your field with these humongous sticks, you start to ask questions like, ‘What is going on here?’” said Hanson. “And you take one look at that nest, right? And you’re like, ‘OK, this is not your average bird.’”
The ongoing situation with the ospreys has sparked public interest in the species, with some expressing concern for the birds’ well-being and others finding the situation amusing. As the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources continues to monitor the nest, the outcome will be watched closely by both the school and the community, as well as by conservationists and sports fans alike.