May 2009

Osprey Rescue

I tend to misplace things from time to time. Misplacing my Leatherman Wave tool is never fun; I rely on it almost everyday.

I was working on the Arthur Kill River near Elizabeth, NJ when my boss noticed a huge flock of gulls circling. As he brought our boat in for a closer look, we spotted a newly fledged Osprey floundering in the water near its nest. The gulls were getting ready for an easy meal. With some very deft handling, the captain put me within arm's reach of the bird and we wheeled around to the piling where it' nest was built. The frightened bird was flapping like crazy and pecking at me as I climbed onto our bow to return it to its nest. It was then I noticed the plastic six-pack holder wrapped around the root of its right wing, which explains why it was flapping around in the water instead of soaring in the sky. Fortunately for me, my wife had found my Leatherman the day before. With one hand holding this magnificent bird of prey, I was able to flick open the Wave tool and cut the plastic off of the bird. Sometimes when we would go back to work in that area, there was an Osprey which would come out and circle our boat.

Moral of the story: PUT YOUR TRASH IN THE TRASH CAN! And don't leave for work without your Leatherman tool.

Scott L.
Glassboro, NJ