Birds and other wildlife cause 20 percent of power outages, that's why Fortis Alberta started the Avian Protection Plan in 2012, so they can keep the birds chirping and the power flowing.

Fortis's Environment Management Department has 3 main projects within the Avian Protection Plan:

  1. Migratory bird nest management.
  2. Raptor nest management.
  3. Installation of nesting platforms.

 "hawks will nest on the powerline we have a program to move those nests..."

Denis Andre is the Fortis Alberta Airdrie Environment Supervisor and he says that when birds nest on power lines, their sticks can fall onto the wires and cause fires.

"Numerous times in the spring, we'll have osprey is the typical one but also other types of hawks will nest on the powerline.  We have a program to move those nests to nesting platforms to get them away from the powerline and give them a safe place to nest," says Andre.

Some birds will nest in the same place over and over but Andre is glad to report that making platforms for the birds to nest on, has been soaring with success!  "In a combination of adding a deterrent to the powerline and setting up a platform within close proximity within 50 meters of their original nesting site they take to the platform every time.  We've had almost 100 percent success there."

Andre wants residents to know they can help out Fortis Alberta with the Avian Protection Plan too..."If you do see a hawk or an osprey or even a smaller bird, a magpie or crow nesting on a powerline or on a transformer it's not a safe place for them so if they'd like to call 310-WIRE and let us know we would act on that information immediately."

If you're seeking a bird's eye view of some of the Avian Protection Plans work, you can view Fortis Alberta's Osprey Camera during nesting season.

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