KEC saves the day for Kidd Island Bay osprey
The osprey nest on a power pole in the Kidd Island Bay area was destroyed Thursday in a pole-top fire. Workers from Kootenai Electric Cooperative installed a new power pole and a safe nesting platform near the pole, salvaging pieces of the original next for the birds. The osprey are OK and now settling into their new home. (Courtesy photo)
An osprey in Kidd Island Bay peers over the side of its new home on a nesting platform installed Thursday. The nest the birds made on top of a power pole caught fire and caused a power outage Wednesday night, but Kootenai Electric Cooperative workers installed the new platform separate from the power pole and salvaged part of the old nest. The birds are doing fine. (Courtesy photo)
Pole-top fire destroys nest, knocks out power
A fire atop a power pole in the Kidd Island Bay area Wednesday night knocked out power and destroyed an osprey nest, almost rendering its feathered tenants homeless.
Workers from Kootenai Electric Cooperative restored power and came to the rescue of the displaced raptors Thursday by installing a safe nesting pole near the power pole where the birds made their former home. The workers even salvaged pieces of the destroyed nest, giving the osprey a little piece of familiar comfort in their new digs.
The osprey survived the fire and have started rebuilding.
“They are rocking and rolling in that platform,” said neighbor Jim Faucher, who reported seeing the birds carrying sticks to the new nest and already settling in.
