These days, BGE means different things to different people. But to those customers who live in the Franklin Manor Beach community in Churchton, the company, like the birds they love, sits high on a pedestal. That's because BGE employees recently helped a pair of osprey set up a safer home, with an incredible view, high atop a new pole overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.
The birds, which have returned to the bayside community in Anne Arundel County year after year, had begun to build their nest on the highest structure in the area, a BGE utility pole.
When the BGE crew arrived on the scene and started their ascent in the bucket toward the nest, the birds flew away, but not too far. Then, with an audience of concerned community members and the two raptors, the men installed a new pole, 10 feet higher than the original one. Next, the employees removed the original nest material from the energized pole. Then they built a nest platform, filled it with original nest material, and mounted it on top of the new pole.
"We sometimes do some crazy things in the course of a day's work." admitted Grady Robinson, an overhead crew leader who worked the job. "But I never dreamed I'd be building osprey nests when I took this job 21 years ago!"
Osprey, protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act because of their once dwindling numbers, are now abundant throughout BGE's service territory, especially in areas surrounding the Chesapeake Bay.
Roberta Reedy, a community member who contacted BGE about the nest, was thrilled that the company took the extra step for the birds. She drives by the nest daily. Soon after the crews had relocated the nest, Reedy noticed a new addition to the family, a hatchling. "This gives you a whole new perspective on the company - it demonstrates that BGE has a human side."
