Mississippi Power helps osprey get a new home

New digs are always nice, especially when you’re an osprey in need of a new nest.

This week a Mississippi Power Coast Division lineman crew built a new nest bed for an osprey that lived on top of a utility pole in Gulfport. It’s the fourth such project this year where the company has helped relocate an osprey nest to a safer location.

“It’s all part of being good environmental stewards,” said Patrick Chubb, Mississippi Power Senior Environmental Specialist. “It’s a proactive service that adheres with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This particular osprey nest is inactive, but it’s built on top of four outdoor parking lights. We put up a 50 foot pole and starter nest about 500 feet away from the old nest. Now, when the osprey returns, it will have a safe home.”

After a platform and nest bed is constructed, a hole is dug and the 50 foot pole is placed seven feet into the ground. Then the lineman crew makes sure the original nest is empty before removing it.

“Usually we see the osprey come back and ‘house hunt’ for a spot higher than the original nest,” Chubb added. The line crew named this one ‘Leona’, and we’re hoping she’ll enjoy her new home.”

In the past Mississippi Power has also built osprey nests near DuPont’s facility in DeLisle, Gulfport, and several locations in Jackson County.