Each spring, the Spokane River welcomes a familiar sight: ospreys soaring overhead, returning from wintering grounds to nest and raise their young. These fish-eating hawks are a symbol of the region’s thriving ecosystem, and a reminder of the balance between nature and infrastructure.
A History of Protection: Avista’s commitment to avian safety began in the early 2000s, when the company recognized the growing risk posed by nests on energized power poles. Ospreys are drawn to tall structures near water, which offer ideal nesting conditions but pose serious threats to birds and the electrical grid.
In response, Avista launched its Avian Protection Program, an initiative designed to reduce bird injuries, prevent outages, and support wildlife conservation. The program includes retrofitting poles to be avian-safe, installing deterrents, and constructing dedicated nesting platforms. After going through an evaluation process that includes a list of considerations, these platforms are strategically placed near fish-bearing waterbodies and are built taller than standard power poles to encourage safe nesting.
A Rescue That Sparked Action: Last summer, a fledgling osprey was found wandering a Spokane neighborhood after falling from a nest atop a power pole. Thanks to a concerned citizen and Margo Wolf of Spokane Audubon’s Save-a-Bird Team, the bird was safely transported to Birds of Prey Northwest in St. Maries, Idaho. After regaining strength and flight skills, it was released back into the wild near the spot it was found.
This incident prompted Avista to install a new nesting platform near the Donkey Island Trailhead along the Centennial Trail. The location offers open space, proximity to the river, and public visibility, making it an ideal site for ospreys to thrive and for the community to observe nature.