Osprey Make Annual Return to Stockton Lake Nesting Box

They're Back!

Since 2015, Liberty Utilities customers and employees have enjoyed tuning in to a live stream featuring the return of a pair of Osprey, a native bird, to Stockton Lake in Missouri every spring. 

The Osprey lost a nest in Stockton, Missouri, in 2014 after it came in contact with one of Liberty's energized electric lines. The birds were not injured, but the fire also caused damage to the transmission tower and line, interrupting electric service. The nesting pair rebuilt their nest on the utility pole.

In February 2015, Liberty line crews moved an Osprey nest from an electric transmission tower to a newly built nesting box. The nesting box is approximately four feet by four feet and approximately 70 feet high. By relocating the nest, crews increased the likelihood the pair would adopt the new nesting site. 

A live video stream was also placed at the nesting box. This was done for the viewing enjoyment of the community and to confirm the birds’ acceptance of their nesting alternative so it could be implemented at other locations in the Liberty system where this was occurring. Liberty Utilities now has ten Osprey nesting boxes installed throughout their service territory.