National Grid crews in Quincy, Massachusetts, worked to relocate an osprey nest to protect a substation.Crews moved the nest 300 feet from its original location.Erin Cahill, lead environmental scientist at National Grid, said, “We’re hopeful that it’s successful. It’s never a guarantee, but we’re hopeful.”The birds had spent about two weeks building their nest, which was made of twigs, sticks, and loose debris. National Grid crews carefully moved the nest across the marsh to a new location atop a 45-foot utility pole at the Department of Public Works facility. Crews used the same materials from the old nest.The move was necessary because a seawall will soon be installed around the facility to prevent flooding.Cahill said the relocation was necessary even without the construction project. “They can get electrocuted. They can die. So it is something that we want to make sure to protect the species, but it also is a reliability concern for National Grid,” she said.David Murphy, commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, said, “It’s a tight window to make sure we don’t disturb the season, but National Grid responded very quickly. We’re very happy about that.” The new location is close to hunting and fishing grounds, which is ideal for the ospreys. Cahill said, “Hopefully their hunting and fishing grounds are the same from when they were on the other side of the water.” National Grid encourages residents to report any nests they see on utility poles in their area.
QUINCY, Mass. —
National Grid crews in Quincy, Massachusetts, worked to relocate an osprey nest to protect a substation.
Crews moved the nest 300 feet from its original location.
Erin Cahill, lead environmental scientist at National Grid, said, “We’re hopeful that it’s successful. It’s never a guarantee, but we’re hopeful.”
The birds had spent about two weeks building their nest, which was made of twigs, sticks, and loose debris.
National Grid crews carefully moved the nest across the marsh to a new location atop a 45-foot utility pole at the Department of Public Works facility. Crews used the same materials from the old nest.
The move was necessary because a seawall will soon be installed around the facility to prevent flooding.
Cahill said the relocation was necessary even without the construction project.
“They can get electrocuted. They can die. So it is something that we want to make sure to protect the species, but it also is a reliability concern for National Grid,” she said.
David Murphy, commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, said, “It’s a tight window to make sure we don’t disturb the season, but National Grid responded very quickly. We’re very happy about that.”
The new location is close to hunting and fishing grounds, which is ideal for the ospreys.
Cahill said, “Hopefully their hunting and fishing grounds are the same from when they were on the other side of the water.”
National Grid encourages residents to report any nests they see on utility poles in their area.
