VANCOUVER: As ospreys return to British Columbia for spring, BC Hydro crews are busy helping them find safer places to nest, protecting both the birds and the communities they live alongside. Recent work in Williams Lake shows how small, proactive steps during nesting season can make a big difference.
Two osprey nests built on active power poles in the Williams Lake area have been safely relocated to purpose-built nesting platforms, part of BC Hydro’s ongoing work to reduce risks to wildlife, communities and the electrical system across the province.
The nests, spotted last month near White Road and Highway 97 and along South Lakeside Drive, were starting to take shape on top of BC Hydro power poles. While ospreys naturally seek out high places to build their nests, choosing energized equipment poses significant dangers. As nests grow, they can become very large and heavy, increasing the risk of equipment damage, outages, and putting the birds at greater risk of injury or electrocution.
Ospreys in British Columbia typically return to nest each spring, with their breeding season running from roughly March through late summer, and peak nesting activity between April and July. During this time, they build large stick nests, often reusing and expanding them year after year, making early detection and relocation efforts especially important.
Working with the City of Williams Lake, BC Hydro crews installed new, taller poles with dedicated nesting platforms close to the original sites. The platforms provide a safer alternative that meets the birds’ preference for elevated nesting locations. Crews then successfully transferred the nests to their new homes during planned outages.
The relocations are part of broader, ongoing work across B.C. to manage osprey-related risks. So far in 2026, BC Hydro teams in the Southern Interior have worked on approximately 16 osprey nesting platforms. These include relocating existing nests that posed safety risks, replacing aging platforms, and installing new platforms in areas with repeated osprey-related outages. Combined with work in the Northern Interior, BC Hydro has already completed work on approximately 24 nesting platforms this year.
These efforts highlight BC Hydro’s proactive approach of managing osprey-related risks on its system on an ongoing basis, investing in preventative measures to reduce impacts to both birds and infrastructure, and responding quickly when risks are identified to protect wildlife and public safety.
Each year, BC Hydro relocates or mitigates risks at dozens of osprey nest sites across the province and installs nesting platforms to discourage birds from building on active equipment, helping prevent outages, fires and harm to wildlife.
The proactive work helps protect local ecosystems while reducing the risk of outages and wildfire, supporting safe and reliable service for communities across British Columbia.
BC Hydro regularly takes steps to protect birds and wildlife while maintaining reliable electricity service, including:
- Wildlife-friendly work practices: Planning work around nesting seasons to avoid disturbing birds.
- Nesting platforms: Installing platforms to give birds like osprey a safe place to nest away from live electrical equipment.
- Protecting bird habitat: Supporting habitat restoration around reservoirs and power corridors.
- Learning and improving: Working with experts to monitor bird activity and continuously improve protections.
For more information, visit bchydro.com.
Contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
Email: media@bchydro.com
Phone: 604 928 6468