A routine trouble call at the beginning of April led to a successful wildlife relocation after a line crew discovered an osprey nest on a transformer pole along Graham Station Road in Letart, W.Va.

During assessment, Cody C., line crew supervisor, noticed a large buildup of sticks and branches atop a nearby transformer pole. After determining it was an osprey nest, Cody contacted Jeremy B., the area’s distribution system supervisor.

Together, they coordinated with Environmental team members, including Shannon H., environmental specialist principal, to develop a safe, responsible and ecological plan to relocate the nest. The team confirmed the nest did not contain any eggs or chicks, allowing work to proceed with minimal risk to wildlife.

Cody, Garrett D., line mechanic-B; Colby B., line mechanic-C; and Scott B., line mechanic-C, worked together to install a new pole with an avian platform approximately 75 feet from the transformer pole’s location. The nest was then carefully relocated to the new pole, providing the ospreys with a safer home away from electrical equipment and facilities.

According to the crew, a pair of ospreys had been rebuilding nests in the same location for more than a decade. After years of recurring nest activity and potential reliability concerns, the team determined relocation was in the best interest of both the birds and the community.

“When ospreys build nests in unsafe locations, such as utility poles, doing nothing can be more harmful than acting,” Shannon said. “Nests are large and made of sticks. If they fall or touch electrical parts, they can cause outages or even fires.”

A few days after the relocation, Cody drove by the site and observed an osprey already perched in its newly placed nest – an encouraging sign that the birds had accepted their new home.

Appalachian Power Company (APCo) sees numerous avian nesting attempts each year, especially during peak season. When possible, the team prioritizes early intervention to provide birds with a safe place to nest before eggs are laid.

“Good stewardship is not always about avoiding impact; it’s about making informed, responsible decisions that protect both nature and people,” Shannon said.