ROULETTE — One thing synonymous with spring is the sounds of chirping and baby birds hatching in their nests. While mother nature is indeed a beautiful thing, when man and nature collide, it can sometimes lead to disastrous results. In order to protect nesting birds and prevent power outages, West Penn Power recently installed two nesting platforms, located on 55-foot wooden poles near the Allegheny River.

“This proactive work will help prevent power outages by discouraging ospreys from returning to existing nexts atop utility poles along Pomeroy Street when they fly back to Pennsylvania in the coming weeks,” West Penn Power officials said Monday in a press release.

While the ospreys wintered in South America, West Penn Power line workers removed two unoccupied nests that were located on utility poles carrying power lines that pass through the center of town.

“Customers have experienced outages over the years as ospreys freshened their large nests with additional sticks and branches, some of which contact the wire, causing power interruptions,” West Penn Power officials explained.

The new poles, fitted with perch arms and topped by wide nesting platforms, now stand closer to the river’s edge.

“These birds typically return to the same nesting sites as the year before,” said Amy Ruszala, an environmental scientist and avian expert at FirstEnergy. “We hope the new platforms provide more enticing nesting locations near the ospreys’ fishing grounds along the Allegheny River when they return to lay eggs in April.”

Ospreys and other birds of prey prefer building nests — which can measure up to three feet in width — on tall structures, including electric transmission towers and poles.

“These nesting habits often place the birds near energized electrical equipment — jeopardizing their well-being and potentially causing power outages,” said West Penn Power officials.

Ruszala warned that ospreys are often persistent about rebuilding their nests in the exact same spots, noting that some birds have even defeated plastic nesting deterrents fitted onto cross arms by “plastering mud and bits of cornstalks over their sharp edges.”

“It’s an ongoing battle,” she said. “If they get a toehold, they can build a full-blown nest in a matter of days.”