Osprey family nests on FortisBC platform in Kelowna

KELOWNA, B.C.—FortisBC is making some feathery friends this summer.

A pair of ospreys have built a nest and laid three eggs on top of a pole installed by FortisBC in Kelowna.

Ospreys are large raptors that feed on fish and look to nest on high structures near bodies of water. To discourage ospreys from nesting on active power poles, FortisBC installs dedicated nesting platforms to protect the species.

“We always look to proactively protect wildlife around our electricity infrastructure and, with ospreys, we want to ensure they have safe areas to nest within their natural habitats,” said Amy Duncan, terrestrial biologist, sustainability and environment, FortisBC. “We know that ospreys often mate for life and established pairs typically return to the same area to build their nests so it’s important that we continue these protection efforts every year.”

Live video of the nesting ospreys can been found at fortisbc.com/osprey.

FortisBC’s Osprey Management Program has been in place since 2005 to help protect birds through the installation of nesting platforms. Crews build the nesting platforms taller than the surrounding electricity infrastructure so nests can be built out of harm’s way.

If an osprey does begin nesting on a live power pole, FortisBC experts work to safely remove the nest and relocate it to one its purpose-built nesting platforms. To date, FortisBC has installed more than 70 of these platforms across the Southern Interior.