Our Birds

The Central Coast is home to an amazingly diverse array of birds – and one family of Eastern Osprey raptors has made the local stadium their home.

In 2014 a breeding pair of ospreys made a nest high in the south-west light tower at polytec Stadium and subsequently produced offspring.

Flying high above the stadium and swooping down to catch fish in neighbouring Brisbane Water, the stadium ospreys became well known on the Central Coast, with locals lovingly referring to them as Our Birds and giving them the names Rosie and Hutch.

But when their nest began to disintegrate, with branches often dislodging and falling on to fans watching events at the ground, stadium staff – in conjunction with Central Coast Council – erected a solid purpose-built platform and a perch for the ospreys.

Most years, Rosie and Hutch produced offspring, with the sight of chicks in the nest creating much excitement in the local area and, indeed, sparking interest from bird watchers around the globe.

Experts say the osprey nest in our light tower provides a safe haven for the hatchlings given that any potential predators can easily be spotted by their doting parents.

With the Brisbane Water to the south, the osprey (colloquially known as the Fish Hawk) are able to secure a regular supply of fresh food.

Tragedy struck in 2023 when Rosie was found in a distressed state on the ground, with stadium staff rushing her to Sydney for urgent raptor care. Unfortunately, she did not survive, and her life partner Hutch left the nest.

However, in 2025, there was bird activity in the stadium nest once more . . . and experts believe it is highly likely one of Rosie and Hutch’s kids (offspring) has returned.

In the spring of 2025, we were excited to welcome the arrival of another osprey hatchling.

It is unclear how important this new breeding pair and its precious offspring are to the long-term survival of the species on the East Coast, but environmental experts say it is likely to be significant given the relatively low numbers of known breeding pairs.

We can all play our part in looking after our ospreys, and our wildlife in general, by keeping the Central Coast’s waterways and bushland healthy. Disposing of rubbish and fishing tackle responsibly is important.

We’ll be sure to update you on further developments with the new osprey family that calls polytec Stadium home! Follow the updates on our #polytecStadium Facebook or Instagram pages.