After months of planning for the replacement of the weathered light poles standing tall above Bellevue’s Hidden Valley Sports Park, the city moved ahead with the installation on a recent, rainy Monday afternoon.
One pole in-particular was set to receive a unique upgrade. A large osprey nest made of sticks, leaves and driftwood balances atop one of the park’s light fixtures near the edge of the ballfield on 112th Avenue Northeast.
To preserve the life-span of the osprey nest and the hopeful return of the large raptors this coming spring, the city concluded the most efficient solution would be to place a designated “osprey” pole on park grounds in addition to the other new light poles.
The 83-foot-tall pole includes a 4-foot by 4-foot platform, designed to be large enough to accommodate the osprey’s nest.
According to Laura Hughes, Hidden Valley Sport’s Park Ranger, the fear was that the osprey would return in the spring and rebuild their nest on the new light poles, creating an ongoing risk of fire and preventing maintenance of the poles.
The city wanted to come up with a game plan that would ensure the preservation of the osprey’s habitat and allow for safe installation of new light poles at Hidden Valley Sports Park.
The osprey has an estimated population of 460,000 and are protected under federal and state laws.
During the recent installation, parts of the nest were carefully moved to the new platform by employees of Davey Tree Expert Company in Bellevue. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, first implemented in 1916 between the U.S. and Great Britain (for Canada), protects migratory birds by prohibiting the removal or replacement of the species, it’s eggs or nest. For these reasons, under the guidance of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the city chose to transplant only partial pieces of the original osprey nest.
“Our hope is that the returning osprey will re-build a nest on the new platform,” Hughes said. “Osprey are accustomed to returning to partially damaged nests due to storms and other natural causes. We are hoping they adapt to the new environment we provide.”
Osprey, sometimes known as the sea hawk, is a fish-eating bird and commonly builds its nest among urban areas that are near large bodies of water. After spending the winter months soaking up the warm climate of Mexico and South America, the osprey residing in the Puget Sound region typically return to their established nest areas during the month of March.
“In the beginning, the community was hesitant about the light pole project and weary of what would happen to the birds, but I think everyone sees now that we have taken ever precaution necessary to ensure the ospreys have a safe environment to return home to,” Hughes said. “Now we just have to wait and watch for their return.”
Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425-453-4602.
