Osprey Watch Calls on Customers to Report Nests Sighted on Utility Equipment

Baltimore, MD – (March 9, 2016) – March marks the annual return of ospreys to the Chesapeake Bay and also the likelihood that their nests will appear on Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) electric equipment. These nests endanger the birds and may cause power outages.

To protect the ospreys and help BGE continue the safe and reliable delivery of electricity, the company has launched a nest identification program called Osprey Watch. Any customer who identifies a nest on or near utility equipment, such as power lines and poles, should let BGE know immediately by emailing ospreywatch@bge.com  BGE will dispatch a trained crew to either shield the birds and nests from the equipment or remove the nest.

“Osprey Watch is an innovative program that provides our customers with a way to protect ospreys while also helping prevent power outages,” said Rob Biagiotti, BGE’s vice president of customer operations and chief customer officer. “BGE has a longstanding commitment to the environment which has always included a comprehensive plan to protect wildlife. We have an obligation to provide smart energy solutions and Osprey Watch now enables everyone to help ensure that ospreys can have a safe nesting season on the Chesapeake Bay.”

How customers can help: 

• When you see an osprey nest on BGE equipment, report the location of the osprey nest via ospreywatch@bge.com and provide the following information:
• If the pole is easily accessible, please send us the pole number, located on a placard near eye level on the pole.
• If the pole is not easily accessible, please send us the nearest address to the pole and attach photos of the pole (taken from different perspectives if possible).

Once a nest is reported, BGE will remove the nest if no birds or eggs are present. The nest will be relocated where possible. If the nest is inhabited, deterrents will be placed on the electric equipment to shield the birds and nests and mitigate the risks of contact.

“BGE has been recognized by groups like Audubon Maryland-DC and Wildlife Habitat Council for the bird-friendly areas and natural habitats we’ve created throughout our service territory,” said Alex Nunez, BGE’s vice president of governmental and external affairs and member of the Audubon Maryland-DC board. “This is an opportunity to engage our customers so they can contribute to keeping ospreys safe which also helps us reliably deliver electricity.”

There have been 123 osprey outage events since 2006, with the vast majority occurring between April and August. The most impacted areas are located along the Chesapeake Bay and include Havre de Grace, near Martin State Airport, south Baltimore, south of Annapolis, and Shady Side to Deale in Anne Arundel County.

To view a video of a previous osprey nest relocation, please click here.

BGE Reliability

Since 2006, the number of total electric outages has decreased 43 percent, and electric outage length has been reduced by 38 percent. BGE continually invests in its infrastructure, including more than $6 billion in system upgrades since 2002, which is expected to lead to fewer outages and faster restoration when outages do occur.

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