CALGARY – AltaLink is the first Canadian utility to develop an Avian Protection Plan and to celebrate, the company invited the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation and their famous great horned owl, Mr. Bogle, to an open house featuring many of the birds AltaLink is committed to protecting.

AltaLink’s new Avian Protection Plan outlines programs that specifically address and mitigate the impacts electrical facilities have on birds. While utilities in the United States have created Avian Protection Plans, AltaLink is the first Canadian utility to develop an Avian Protection Plan and have it reviewed and accepted by a third party.

“Through partnerships with organizations like the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation, we are finding ways to protect wildlife around our facilities while improving the overall reliability of our system for all Albertans,” says Scott Thon, President and Chief Executive Officer of AltaLink.

As part of its Avian Protection Plan, AltaLink provided a donation at the open house to the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation to help support the continued rehabilitation of Alberta’s birds.

“It is encouraging to see companies such as AltaLink developing protection programs for birds. Their donation will contribute significantly to our rehabilitation and conservation efforts,” says Colin Weir, Director of the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation.

Although information about the new Avian Protection Plan was the focus of the open house, the birds from the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation were definitely the star attraction. 

AltaLink, Canada's only fully independent transmission provider, is responsible for the maintenance and operation of more than 11,600 kilometres of transmission lines and approximately 260 substations in Alberta. As Alberta's largest supplier of safe and reliable transmission, AltaLink is moving forward to provide a transmission system that will continue to meet the needs of Albertans. AltaLink has been a proud supporter of Alberta 4-H since 2003, and as a Legacy Builder it is the title sponsor of all regional, district and provincial communications and public speaking programs.

The Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation, active since 1982, is Alberta's first privately licensed raptor rescue and conservation organization. The Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation is located in Coaldale, two hours south of Calgary in the heart of Canada's wild prairies. As a non-political organization, The Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation is not an environmental critic or watch-dog. 

One hundred per cent of all donations received are spent on programs and projects that directly benefit the wildlife and habitat they strive to conserve.