Osprey returning to the Glenbow Ranch this spring after a long migration will have a new nesting structure when they arrive. A brand new artificial nest platform will be installed in the provincial park on Saturday, March 10 in anticipation of their return.
The new nest platform – which will be installed on top of a wood pole – is being donated and built by AltaLink to be ready for the spring return of osprey, who have become a very popular attraction for local nature enthusiasts since they became a fixture in the area more than 15 years ago.
“We are thrilled that these beautiful birds choose to nest in Glenbow Ranch,” said Sarah Parker, executive director of the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation. “We hope that with the addition of this nest they continue to return for generations to come.”
A nearby nest platform used by osprey had to be removed in 2017 due to its proximity to the railway.
This nest platform installation is another facet of AltaLink’s Avian Protection Plan (APP), a management system designed to reduce the impact transmission facilities can have on birds. As the first Canadian utility to develop its own APP, AltaLink is a leader in avian protection. To learn more, please visit www.AltaLink.ca.
“As a company that owns and operates power lines across Alberta, it’s important to us to provide these platforms where historical nest features have been lost to help ensure the osprey in the area continue to thrive,” said Nikki Heck, AltaLink environmental advisor. “Ensuring that these birds have a safe place to nest is an important part of our environmental commitment.”
About the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation
The Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation was established in 2007 as a partner in the development of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. Through a partnership with the Alberta Government, the GRPF provides visitor services, public programs, oversees a group of vibrant volunteers, and fundraises for the provincial park. For more information visit www.grpf.ca.
About AltaLink
Headquartered in Calgary, with offices in Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge, AltaLink is Alberta’s largest electricity transmission provider. AltaLink is partnering with its customers to provide innovative solutions to meet the province’s demand for reliable and affordable energy. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, AltaLink is part of a global group of companies delivering energy services to customers worldwide.
For more information please contact:
Robin Boschman
Manager, Corporate Communications
AltaLink Management Ltd.
403.828.1525
Robin.Boschman@AltaLink.ca
Sarah Parker
Executive Director
Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation
403-708-7039
sarah.parker@grpf.ca