How Alabama Power helped safely relocate an osprey nest
A Mobile-area business asked the utility for help after the nest began to interfere with its parking lot lights. (contributed)
A Mobile-area osprey nest has a new home thanks to some help from Alabama Power.
The utility was contacted by a business on the causeway earlier this year, saying the unoccupied nest was interfering with its parking lot lights. Environmental experts within Alabama Power worked with company line crews to develop a plan to relocate it.
“We had an extra platform here at our service complex in Calera left over from a project a number of years ago and thought, ‘Well, why don’t we give them a more permanent home to nest on?'” said Jason Carlee, manager of Water Field Services in Alabama Power’s Environmental Affairs department. “So, we did that. We installed a nesting platform on an empty pole in the customer’s parking lot and then moved the nest to the platform.”
Alabama Power relocates osprey nest from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
The project took several weeks to plan and had to be done before osprey nesting season began March 1 because of federal protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Carlee said he and his team coordinated with state and federal fish and wildlife agencies prior to moving the nest.
“It’s our goal to protect and conserve wildlife and natural resources as we provide electricity to our customers,” Carlee said. “Anytime we can provide an opportunity to provide a benefit for our customer and also protect wildlife, that’s a win for everyone.”
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Crews were able to move the vast majority of that nest material, enough so that ospreys will continue to be attracted to the nest. Mobile Distribution Manager Chris Lucassen said his crews were happy to help.
“Environmental stewardship is very important to the Power Delivery team,” said Lucassen. “Living along the Gulf Coast, many of our team members are avid outdoorspeople, and they were happy to be involved in this effort. I am proud of the great job that the team did in managing the relocation.”
