Two osprey nest platforms now dot Pensacola Beach thanks to the perseverance of a 15-year-old Gulf Breeze boy.

Patrick Bruha, a freshman at Pensacola Catholic High School, dreamed up the idea for an Eagle Scout project to build osprey platforms for Little Sabine Bay on Pensacola Beach more than a year ago. Patrick, a member of Gulf Breeze Scout Troop 484, soon embarked on a course that would involve the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Santa Rosa Island Authority, the Little Sabine Homeowner’s Association, Gulf Power Company and Pike Electric.

“The osprey boxes were the easy part,” Patrick said. “It was a long road getting to this point, but it feels good seeing it come to reality, and to see companies like Gulf Power and Pike Electric volunteering their time and equipment.”

Once threatened with extinction, and often called a “fish eagle,” the osprey has made a dramatic comeback in recent years and now is thriving along the Gulf Coast. With a 4- to 6-foot wingspan, ospreys have a diet almost entirely of fish, for which they dive feet-first after hovering 30 to 130 feet above the water. They prefer high nests along the coast or near bodies of water. Platforms placed on utility poles are an ideal man-made solution, but their placement in some cases is regulated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service or local government.

Patrick obtained permits for platforms in the natural area ringed by homes along Little Sabine Bay, but then had to stand before the SRIA board with a presentation. Finally, he met with the Little Sabine homeowners to clear the final hurdle: getting permission to install the poles.

Once approved, Gulf Power donated two 60-foot poles which were installed by Pike Electric.

“We were glad to do our part, but the credit goes to Patrick for his effort and perseverance,” said Sandy Sims, Gulf Power Public Affairs manager. “It shows that through partnerships, we can achieve a lot to benefit our community and the environment. Hopefully, some ospreys will soon call these platforms home.”

Gulf Power has installed many osprey platforms along its electric system to help the species make a comeback in Northwest Florida.