Research suggests a better way to keep birds from hitting power lines

JUNE 24, 2020

by Steve Lundeberg, Oregon State University

Suspended, rotating devices known as "flappers" may be the key to fewer birds flying into power lines, a study by Oregon State University suggests.

The findings by researchers in OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences are important because around the globe both the number of power lines and concern over bird fatalities are on the rise.

Research has documented more than 300 species of birds dying from hitting power lines, with one study estimating that more than 170 million perish annually in the United States and another estimating the global death toll to be 1 billion per year. There's also the problem of power outages that bird strikes can cause.

Conservation managers and utilities many years ago developed flight diverters, basically regularly spaced devices that make the lines more visible, as a step toward reducing the number of birds flying into the lines.

The most common type are the PVC spirals, which are durable and easy to install, but how well they actually work isn't well understood. Though they've been in use for nearly four decades, strike rates remain high for a number of species.

OSU researchers Virginia Morandini and Ryan Baumbusch were part of an international collaboration that compared the effectiveness of three types of flight diverters: yellow PVC spiral; orange PVC spiral; and a flapper model with three orange and red polypropylene blades with reflective stickers.

The flapper hangs from a power line and its blades, 21 centimeters by 6.2 centimeters, rotate around a vertical axis.

Read on

Better way to keep birds from hitting power lines

Date: June 24, 2020

Source: Oregon State University    

Suspended, rotating devices known as "flappers" may be the key to fewer birds flying into power lines, a study by Oregon State University suggests.

The findings by researchers in OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences are important because around the globe both the number of power lines and concern over bird fatalities are on the rise.

Research has documented more than 300 species of birds dying from hitting power lines, with one study estimating that more than 170 million perish annually in the United States and another estimating the global death toll to be 1 billion per year. There's also the problem of power outages that bird strikes can cause.

Conservation managers and utilities many years ago developed flight diverters, basically regularly spaced devices that make the lines more visible, as a step toward reducing the number of birds flying into the lines.

The most common type are the PVC spirals, which are durable and easy to install, but how well they actually work isn't well understood. Though they've been in use for nearly four decades, strike rates remain high for a number of species.

OSU researchers Virginia Morandini and Ryan Baumbusch were part of an international collaboration that compared the effectiveness of three types of flight diverters: yellow PVC spiral; orange PVC spiral; and a flapper model with three orange and red polypropylene blades with reflective stickers.

Continued

Power companies are working together on a unique problem causing safety concerns By:

Kristen Nielsen 

Posted: Sep 21, 2018 06:20 PM EDT

Updated: Sep 21, 2018 06:20 PM EDT

Local power companies and wildlife conservationists are joining forces due to a re-emergence of one bird species and the problems they're posing.

The First Energy Power Corporation has started a project in six states including Pennsylvania to address a growing problem presented by a particular species of bird. They're working with State Representative Parke Wentling and conservation groups to provide a solution.

Wentling tells us, "...osprey build a very large nest. It can actually go across the entire length of the top of a power line."

This bird of prey is returning to the area after decades on the threatened species list. As of last year, they are no longer considered threatened but they do remain a protected species.

Sarah Sargent, Executive Director of the Erie Bird Observatory, says, "Actually, there was a number of reintroduction programs and so forth over the years.  But now, we actually have this nice, healthy population that is growing".

These birds once built their nests atop the tall, straight trees in the area, but many of those were cut down to build ships.  Which, according to conservation experts, power poles are a great substitute.  But their nests are causing issues, putting themselves and the public at risk.

Environmental Scientist for First Energy, Amy Ruszala, tells us, "They cause a lot of power outages.  It is endangering to the birds.  They also can cause a pole fire which is dangerous for the public but for the bird as well."

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Power lines adapted after Lincolnshire swan deaths

New safety measures have been added to overhead power lines near a nature reserve after reports of swans being killed by them.

Posting on social media, ornithologist Josh Jones said a number of swans had been killed by power lines on Baston Fen, Lincolnshire.

He said the wires were close to feeding grounds used by the mute swans.

Western Power Distribution said it had fitted diverters to make the lines stand out to birds in flight.

Mr Jones, who works for Birdguides magazine, said he spotted four dead swans along a short stretch of road while out bird watching at the weekend.

"They were in various states of decay, some looked fairly fresh, and some looked like they had been there a couple of weeks," he said.

"It was quite a disturbing find."

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New reflective markers help birds avoid power lines

Andrea MacLean, CTV Calgary
Published Wednesday, August 24, 2016 8:43PM MDT 

Many migratory birds will soon begin the long trip south for the winter. The trip comes with many hazards, one of them being transmission lines that cross their flight path.

Hitting a line can be deadly for birds but Alberta's largest regulated electricity transmission company is trying to keep birds from colliding with their wires.

“We take bird collisions very seriously,” said AltaLink Environmental Advisor, Nikki Heck. “We’ve had a standard in place since 2008 where we’ve been installing various different types of bird markers.”

Transmission lines near wetlands have proven hazardous to birds. AltaLink is installing a new system to keep them safe.

There were several reports in the spring of birds colliding with the power lines over Frank Lake near High River. On Wednesday crews were out installing the bird diversion system.

The system requires linemen to scoot across the 500 kilovolt line and stopping every 10 metres to install a bright orange and yellow reflective marker.

The markers, which can be seen kilometres away by birds and humans alike, have reflective coating on three sides. They are designed to be seen in all types of weather conditions and they even glow in the dark.

“Birds fly in at night, birds fly in early in the morning or in fog. In those sorts of conditions it’s very difficult to see the line so we want to see a product like this on the line so they can still see it,” said Heck.

“Waterfowl and other large water-birds like swans, geese, ducks, they’re not overly maneuverable. So, anywhere we have a transmission line near a wetland area that supports large numbers of birds like this, this is a good mitigation that we can use to help those birds to see the line in advance so that they can maneuver around the obstacle.”

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Power lines restrict sage grouse movement in Washington

Date: August 24, 2015

Source: University of Washington

Summary: Transmission lines that funnel power from hydroelectric dams and wind turbines across Eastern Washington affect greater sage grouse habitat by isolating fragile populations and limiting movement, a new study finds.

The paper, which looks at how features in the landscape limit the species' distribution and gene flow, is the first to show that power-line corridors are an obstacle for sage grouse as they move across the landscape to feed and reproduce. The study was published early online this summer in the journalLandscape Ecology.

Power lines and future development across the Columbia Plateau could further weaken the species, which is listed as threatened in Washington state. The entire U.S. population that spans 11 western states is up for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act and a decision on whether to officially designate the population as endangered is expected by the end of September.

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Power lines provide mixed fortunes for Cape vultures

By Jeremy Coles

Reporter, BBC Nature

Cape vultures in southern Africa are using expanding networks of pylons and power lines to extend their range, say scientists.

At the same time these lines are also contributing to this threatened bird of prey's decline through fatal collisions and electrocutions.

The study involved a team of experts from the UK and South Africa tracking individual bird movements using GPS.

The results are published in the online journal PLoS One.

Southern Africa's Cape vultures (Gyps coprotheres) - like many other species of vulture - are in decline. Contributing factors include feeding on illegally poisoned carcasses and fatal collisions with wind turbines and power lines.

To understand more about their movements, and how these vultures interact with power lines, a team of scientists fitted GPS devices to five adult and four immature birds.

"What we were trying to find out was how far they were going and what sort of areas they were feeding in," explained lead researcher Louis Phipps from Nottingham Trent University, UK.

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Sudan’s killer power line to be replaced to protect Endangered Egyptian vultures

Sudan government acts on "killer power line"

September 2013. A workshop of the Migratory Soaring Birds (MSB) project led by BirdLife International and the United Nations Development Program has prompted the Sudanese government to replace one of the most deadly power lines in Africa for large migratory birds , the Port Sudan "killer line".

Thousands of Endangered Egyptian vultures killed

In particular the 31-km long power line is estimated to have killed hundreds and perhaps thousands of Egyptian Vultures since it was constructed in the 1950s. The most recent survey found, during the month of September alone, the carcasses of 17 Egyptian vultures along the power line. All the carcasses were found under power poles, 15 under metal poles and two under concrete poles, making electrocution the most likely cause of death.

The March 2013 workshop, funded by the MSB project, was presented by the Sudanese Wildlife Society (SWS) who is the local non-governmental partner in the project. The opening session was held at the offices of the Sudanese Company for Electricity Transmission. Guests included the Director General and senior engineers of the Electricity Transmission Company, the Director of the Sudanese Electricity Distribution Company, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, and the Director General of the Wildlife Conservation General Administration.

The President of SWS, Professor Ibrahim Hashim, gave a presentation about the impact of power lines on migratory soaring birds, with the emphasis on the Port Sudan "killer line". He then introduced the MSB project guidance materials on bird-sensitive power line development.

"Responses from the distinguished speakers were positive", said Ibrahim Hashim. "All of them stressed the importance of solving the killer power line. The Director of the Electricity Company emphasised the impact of the killer line on birds, as well as the power loss due to electrocution, and he promised to solve the problem."

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/egyptian-vultures-sudan.html

Helicopter called in to save seagull stuck in power lines

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (CNN) - A dramatic rescue unfolded in Virginia Beach Thursday.

A helicopter was called in to save a seagull.

Witnesses reported the bird had been tangled up in the power line since Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for Virginia Dominion Power said the seagull was too high up for a bucket rescue.

So the company sent in the helicopter it usually uses for special equipment.

Workers managed to free the bird.

It was then taken to the Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where it's expected to be treated for its injuries.

Video:  http://www.wdam.com/story/23490997/helicopter-called-in-to-save-seagull-stuck-in-powerlines

Power line diverters fitted to save 'large birds' in Lancashire

Brightly coloured "flight diverters" have been installed on power lines to help protect birds in Lancashire.

About 150 ball-shaped attachments were fitted near Martin Mere, Burscough, to make cables stand out for "large birds with poor manoeuvrability".

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) said diverters will help the 40,000 pink-footed geese and whooper swans that migrate to the area each year.

Engineers carried out the work on 1.6km of overhead lines.

Steve Cox, from Electricity North West, said: "We discovered this was a sensitive section of the network as it was located in a known flight path".

Nick Brooks, from Martin Mere nature reserve, said larger birds were particularly prone to flying collisions.

He said: "The project is invaluable to ensure both the safety of the swans and geese as well as ensuring the local community are not affected by these large numbers of birds."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-23872807