An osprey is back home in Gloucester in a new nest, thanks to the work of the members of Sacred Friends, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Norfolk that rehabilitates injured, sick and orphaned wildlife.

The osprey came in to Sacred Friends as a nestling when its nest came down at the Zanoni home of Bill Hudgins. James A. Beamer Jr., CEO and director of the organization, and his wife, Pearl, who is also a director, met Hudgins and his wife Shirley halfway between Gloucester and Norfolk to take custody of the animal.

The osprey was then taken to Midway Veterinary Hospital in Chesapeake, where she was weighed and had a complete checkup. Veterinarian Tony Poutous found no injuries, determining the bird to be generally healthy.

"We fed her a constant diet of fish, starting with sliced and diced and worked her up to whole fish," Pearl Beamer said. "When she was eating whole fish, we started talking to Bill Hudgins about re-nesting her. He and his son put up a new nesting platfo...