Osprey gets a New Home at Lakeland Sand & Gravel Pit

The Lakeland Sand & Gravel Pit had an unusual visitor in late April when an osprey began building a nest on the main power line feeding the plant.  Upon arriving at work one Monday morning, employees discovered that some of the sticks the osprey was using to build its’ nest had shorted out the main power line to the Lakeland Plant. 

The local power company, Xcel Energy, was called out to remove the nest and restore power to the plant.  As the lineman was attempting to remove the nest, the osprey was busy trying to rebuild it.  Since another pole was located adjacent to the original “nesting” site, several Lakeland employees along with the Company’s contracted electrician from Hunt Electric, donated their time and built the osprey a new “nesting” box.  It took the osprey only a day to discover and move into its’ new home. 

Ospreys are listed as a species of “special concern” in Minnesota and the local Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota has been involved in an effort to re-introduce ospreys to the Twin Cities area since 1994.  This is the second time we have moved the osprey in the US regions.  If you recall, the Mid Atlantic region successfully relocated the osprey back in 2005.  It seems as though these birds are flying across the country to be a part of Aggregate Industries.