Published 03/20/2008
Johnson, VT – Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC), the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, as well as other groups will be scanning the skies over Fairfield Swamp off Route 36 in Fairfield, Vermont, over the next few weeks in anticipation of the return of a rare pair of osprey.

 Last summer, one of only about 100 pairs of osprey in Vermont built a nest atop one of VEC’s utility poles in Fairfield Swamp.  “Great idea, but bad choice of location!” reported Tina Scharf, the State Fish and Wildlife Department’s Osprey Project Coordinator.  Unfortunately, after a rain, the nest became a conduit for electrical current causing both the nest and the pole to catch on fire and resulting in an outage for approximately 350 VEC members. The birds were not harmed as a result of the fire; however, undeterred, the pair attempted to rebuild the nest. The ospreys are expected to return again in the next few weeks and VEC wants to provide a safe place for their return. 

Monday, March 24th, VEC will be installing a bird-safe (and power-safe) platform on the utility pole in efforts to provide a safe spot for the returning birds to nest. “Ospreys have a “high natal loyalty,” says Scharf. “Offspring prefer to return to their home base for nesting and breeding after their migration south for the winter.” 

“This is a win-win effort for both the birds and VEC members,” said Jeffery Wright, VEC’s Chief Operating Officer. “Our intent is to maintain the reliability of the line and do our part to help re-establish the osprey population in the State of Vermont.”

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