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Osprey nest relocated

Earlier this week, material from an osprey nest near Pritchard ignited on a power pole.
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BC Hydro crews turn off power before moving an osprey nest to a safer platform.

Earlier this week, material from an osprey nest near Pritchard ignited on a power pole.

A BC Hydro crew extinguished the fire and relocated the nest, which was not damaged, to a new, safer location.

Osprey, a protected species in B.C., build bulky stick nests on top of trees and other tall structures. The nest, which is about four feet wide, was successfully lifted off the pole and set on a new platform just a few feet away. To move the nest, power line technicians first cut the power to the lines and grounded them. The crew then pushed grounding rods underneath the nest and created a rope cradle to provide the support needed to keep the nest in one piece during the move. The crew used a BC Hydro truck with a bucket attached to sling the nest to the platform.

The new nesting platform is 60 feet tall. The higher pole will attract the osprey as they prefer to roost at the highest point.

Just before relocating the nest, three eggs were removed and returned after it was moved. The osprey returned to the nest to care for its eggs within 15 minutes of crews completing the work.