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Birds of a Feather: Liberty Wildlife and APS give Raptors a Safe Place to Nest
Liberty Wildlife and Arizona Public Service (APS) are taking wildlife conservation to new heights, giving Arizona’s protected bird species a safe new place to call home along the southern bank of the Salt River near Tempe.
Liberty Wildlife’s rehabilitation center provides groves and trees that are essential for the local bird population, as the surrounding area consists of mostly industrial facilities and distribution centers, resulting in limited habitat space for large birds of prey, also known as raptors.
APS Natural Resource Specialist Mathew Downs and Liberty Wildlife Biologist Laura Hackett teamed on a solution. With bird behavior in mind, they hatched a plan for APS lineworkers to install a 45-foot wooden pole and top it with a platform and perch to give large birds an elevated nesting spot. They positioned the platform toward the north-northwest, matching typical raptor habits. In summer, this setup will allow sunlight to warm their backs, while helping to keep eggs and birds from becoming too hot.
“Red-tailed hawks, ravens, osprey, even eagles and other birds will enjoy this perch. It provides an ideal launch point for birds to hunt, nest, safely lay eggs and care for their young,” said Downs. “The perch towers over the area and will give these birds command of the skies, which will enrich the eco-system here.”
Liberty’s Hackett appreciates how the platform offers a secure place for local raptors to nest. “It will make the entire Rio Saldo corridor healthier for these majestic birds and make the area a better place for our community to enjoy and appreciate native wildlife.”
APS natural resource experts work across the state assessing infrastructure in areas with higher bird populations, reducing injuries with protective coating and insulation on power lines and installing about 1,000 bird guards on power poles each year providing a safe place to perch.
APS has a longstanding partnership with Liberty Wildlife, a non-profit conservation organization that rescues and rehabilitates injured animals. They work together to protect the environment, while APS maintains a strong energy grid to provide customers the electricity they need.
For more information about each organization’s efforts, visit libertywildlife.org or aps.com/wildlifeprotection.
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