Liberty Wildlife and Arizona Public Service (APS) have collaborated to create a new nesting site for protected bird species along the southern bank of the Salt River near Tempe. The initiative aims to support raptors, such as red-tailed hawks, ravens, ospreys, and eagles, in an area where natural habitats are limited due to industrial development.
Liberty Wildlife’s rehabilitation center offers groves and trees for local birds, but much of the surrounding region is dominated by industrial facilities and distribution centers. This has reduced available habitat space for large birds of prey.
To address this challenge, APS Natural Resource Specialist Mathew Downs and Liberty Wildlife Biologist Laura Hackett worked together on a solution. APS lineworkers installed a 45-foot wooden pole topped with a platform and perch designed specifically for raptors. The platform faces north-northwest to align with typical raptor habits. In summer months, this orientation allows sunlight to warm the birds’ backs while helping prevent eggs and birds from overheating.
“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.”
Hackett noted that the new structure provides security for nesting raptors: “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 employs natural resource experts across Arizona who assess infrastructure in areas with higher bird populations. They work to reduce injuries by applying protective coatings and insulation on power lines and installing about 1,000 bird guards on power poles each year.
APS has maintained a partnership with Liberty Wildlife—a non-profit focused on rescuing and rehabilitating injured animals—to protect local wildlife while continuing its primary role as an electricity provider. The company supplies power from its headquarters in Phoenix to approximately 1.4 million customers throughout Arizona, including rural communities as well as urban areas like Tempe. APS also offers services such as outage support, customer billing assistance programs—including discounts based on income—and is committed to increasing renewable energy resources within its regulated utility operations (https://www.aps.com).
For more information about each organization’s efforts, visit libertywildlife.org or aps.com/wildlifeprotection.
