For the birds: Osprey nest relocation at Remote Gate Valves 98 and 100
Two Osprey pairs built significant nests on the towers at TAPS Remote Gate Valves 98 and 100 near Gulkana in Alaska’s Interior. These nests can weigh hundreds of pounds. If they caused a communication outage, it could result in operational disruption or harm to the birds, and even a possible pipeline shutdown.
Ospreys are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but nests are allowed to be removed in the winter when they are not active. There’s no obligation to relocate or replace them. However, Ospreys return to the same nests each year and would likely just rebuild again. In 2024, teams at Alyeska’s Glennallen Response Base showed ingenuity and initiative as environmental stewards to construct alternate platforms and relocate the nests during the winter.
They worked with an environmental coordinator to research nest platform construction specifications, arranged for locates, and even sourced unused telephone poles and material to minimize the costs. The old nests were carefully removed from the antennas and placed on new platforms before the birds were expected to return.
The relocation was a success as the Ospreys arrived in the spring and used their new nest platforms. The RGV-98 nest was damaged in the spring by weather and the pair rebuilt in the antenna, but the RGV-100 pair successfully raised young on their new platform. The RGV-98 nest will be relocated again in winter 2024-2025 and we expect that “Nick” and “Jessica” will use their new fortified platform.
The work earned a 2025 Atigun Award honorable mention in the Environment category.
See more project photos below …
