A group of volunteers, led by teacher Tim Brooks and students from R. Ross Beattie Senior Public School, working with Corey McLister, Environmental Coordinator at Glencore’s Kidd Creek erected two new raptor nesting platforms recently.
One nesting platform was built near Kidd Creek’s Feldman Lake mine site and the other at Kidd Creek’s Met site near Frederick House River.
“The platform is a man-made structure that provides a strong structural base as an option for raptors to build a nest on,” said Carole Belanger, Kidd Creek Communications and Community Relations Coordinator.
Raptor nests in trees maybe disrupted because they are built too close to hydro transmission line or buildings used for mining operations such as headframes.
Over time branches may need to be pruned back.
“People began using these nests in highly populated areas with fragmented forests and habitat to help save the osprey and peregrine falcon population,” Belanger explained.
“Here in the north the goal is to keep them away from manmade infrastructure, such as power lines (and) mining headframes where the nests may interfere with maintenance or decommissioning should a nest be established there,” Belanger added.
Belanger noted that raptors, specifically osprey and peregrine falcon are species at risk and efforts must be taken to help them build up their population.
The platforms set up by the students of Ross Beattie Senior Public School in partnership with Glencore provides a nest that will not be disturbed by maintenance or decommissioning activities.
They are designed to leave a small footprint on the natural landscape that over time as nature takes its course will blend into the natural setting.
“The nesting platform is a 3 foot x 3 foot box with 6-inch side walls to keep branches in,“ said Belanger. “This is mounted on a 25 foot wooden pole.”
The wooden pole is made of cedar.
Now that the nesting platforms have been built, McLister, Glencore’s environmental coordinator, will monitor the sites for nesting activities in order to measure how they are used.
Belanger said Glencore first became involved with the nesting platform program through its Biodiversity Conservation Program that is committed to protecting migratory bird populations by ensuring they have the habitat to breed successfully.
“We initially requested our consultants to provide ideas on conservation projects we should undertake,” Belanger said. “One recommendation was, the installation of raptor nesting platforms.”
As Kidd Operations Environmental Department was considering the idea teachers at Ross Beattie School approached Glencore Kidd Creek with the request for a wood donation for their program.
“We asked them if they would like to form a partnership,” said Belanger. “Kidd Operations supplied the wood, Ross Beattie students built the platforms and got to learn about wood working techniques and conservation efforts.”
McLister noted the importance of the partnership in building and setting up the raptor nesting platforms.
“I would like to thank our partners Tim Brooks of R. Ross Beattie School and the students for their participation in building the platforms,” said Corey McLister, the Environmental Coordinator of Kidd Operations. “And also Steve Millions of Highline Power Inc. for the in kind donation of installing the poles and platforms.”
(PHOTO: Corey McLister, Environmental Coordinator, Kidd Operations (Left) and Tim Brooks (Right), Teacher at R. Ross Beattie Senior Public School check out the new raptor nesting platform recently installed at the Frederick House River. Photo courtesy of Glencore Kidd Creek)