BC Hydro crews complete delicate task saving bald eagle nest atop damaged pole

A grass fire in the Shuswap Region of B.C. damaged six wooden transmission poles. BC Hydro crews worked to save an eagle’s nest that contained a single egg on top of one of the poles. Photo courtesy Twitter/BC Hydro.

When a grass fire in B.C.’s Shuswap region damaged six wooden transmission poles, BC Hydro faced a much more complicated task than simply replacing the charred poles.

A bald eagle pair had made the unusual choice of building a nest at the top of one of the poles and utility workers confirmed the nest contained a single egg.

BC Hydro crews work to save an eagle’s nest that contained a single egg on top of a damaged power pole from a grass fire in the Shuswap Region. Photo courtesy Twitter/BC Hydro.

A series of posts on the Crown utility’s social media page shows how technicians and environmental field staff completed the delicate task of collecting the egg and storing it in a straw-filled pail.

While the egg was kept warm in a temperature-controlled vehicle, Hydro says the top of the transmission pole was cut away.

A crane was used to lower the pole top and the large nest to the ground where workers were able to detach the nest and return it to the top of the repaired tower.

One of the adult eagles showed interest in the replaced nest almost immediately and Hydro says it was back with the egg the following morning.

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