Starting today, the public will again have access to a bird’s eye view of an osprey nest via a high-resolution webcam thanks to an alliance between the Calgary Zoo and ENMAX Corporation.
For over 15 years, a pair of nesting osprey have chosen to build their summer home on a platform constructed by the Calgary Zoo on a pole erected by ENMAX Power Corporation at the extreme east end of St. George’s Island. For a second year, ENMAX is pleased to provide nature enthusiasts with the unique opportunity to intimately view the osprey’s seasonal activities and lives.
“It’s not uncommon that large birds build their nests on top of utility poles,” says Doris Kaufmann, ENMAX Corporation. “Ultimately, this becomes a safety issue as ENMAX Power employees must remove the nests in order to prevent power interruptions. By building more attractive nesting platforms in key areas, they’re helping the osprey to recover their populations while ensuring the integrity of the power supply.”
The live streaming camera captures ordinary behaviours of the osprey as they occur in the nesting site. These behaviours include nesting, hatching, and feeding of the osprey throughout the season. There will be highlights of the activity earlier this season and you will be able to watch the progress of the osprey on the ENMAX website throughout the summer. Last year, more than 33,000 hits were recorded as people watched the exciting events of the osprey unfold.
For more information on this osprey camera and to watch the osprey live, 24 hours a day, visit the ENMAX osprey pages at www.enmax.com/osprey. A link and information about osprey is also available on the Calgary Zoo website at www.calgaryzoo.org/osprey.
ENMAX Power is a wholly owned subsidiary of ENMAX.