Recent work on a Gulf Power project led to the discovery of a pair of osprey building an important project of their own. The osprey pair was nesting in a platform Gulf Power had built years ago to keep them away from the utility’s power poles. And, they were guarding three eggs.

Gulf Power led a team effort to relocate the entire platform about 500 feet — eggs, nest and all. The multi-group effort involved specialized equipment and wildlife experts. It took a twist when one of the eggs hatched.

“It took a lot of different groups working together to make this happen, and we’re happy it was a success,” said Natalie Smith, Gulf Power Media Relations. “The egg hatching made it a little more complicated, but with our Environmental Affairs department working with experts from our community, we were able to see a happy beginning.”

Gulf Power has built or helped build hundreds of osprey platforms from Pensacola to Panama City to help establish nests and keep them away from power lines. But this platform — in the Panama City area — was too close to planned new equipment that was about to be installed.

Gulf Power consulted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which regulates interactions with protected bird species such as osprey, a once-gravely endangered fish eagle that is rebounding along the Gulf Coast.

The company brought in wildlife experts from Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge in Fort Walton Beach, led by Stephanie Kadletz, Wildlife Health supervisor, along with volunteer Deb Edwards. Gulf Power contractors Henkels and McCoy provided personnel and specialized equipment.

A specialized tractor held the platform pole upright and moved it to its new location. But first, they had to remove the eggs and secure the nest with a net and staples. They used a bucket truck to reach the 60-foot platform and then carefully removed eggs from the nest and put them in a container.

Kadletz took the container and placed it in her vehicle, turning on the heated seats so that the eggs would stay warm. When wildlife workers went to check on the eggs, an osprey hatchling peeped up at them.

“We were so surprised to see that one of the eggs had hatched,” Kadletz said.

The crew replaced the eggs and waited. If the mother didn’t return by 2 p.m., they would have to remove the eggs and hatchling again so that the wildlife refuge staff could raise them in captivity for release.

By 1:04 p.m., the eagle had landed.

“We were really happy to be a part of this operation, and to be a part of this special moment,” Smith said. “It shows that when working together and partnering with the right people, good things can happen.”