Birds and Power Lines

LEGISLATION          FORMS OF ACTS AND LETTERS            POWER LINES DANGEROUS FOR BIRDS

CONTACT TO COORDINATOR         SEND THE ACT           VISIT TO FORUM

BIRD PROTECTIVE DEVICES    TECHNIQUES OF INSPECTION OF POWER LINES

NEWS OF THE PROGRAMME         MAPS

GO TO WEB-GIS “PROTECTED AREAS AND ANTHROPOGENIC DISTURBANCES”

Problem “Birds and Power Lines”

For a long time the birds were adapting to environmental conditions that had been formed on our planet. However, people have made some adjustments in the process, substantially changing the habitat of birds. The development of infrastructure of overhead power lines (PL) is one of the most powerful factors giving impetus to birds of prey to occupy new habitats, and, at the same time, bringing about alarming proportions of bird deaths. Birds of prey simply did not have time to adjust to the rapidly changing conditions of the developing grid of PL. At present, many species of raptors of completely vanished in areas with a developed infrastructure of PL dangerous to birds.

Birds die from electrocution generally because the metal crossarms of power poles are grounded. The bird sitting on the crossarm spans the gap between an energized wire and a grounded power pole; as a result the bird dies from ground-fault. Usually ground-fault occurs when the bird sitting on the crossarm flaps its wings, and rarely when the bird tries to clean its bill of a wire.

Why do birds die from electrocution?

Also this happens when during the rain birds sit on wires near insulators close from each other. The most birds after electrocution fall down (their remains can be found underneath power poles), but some times the bird are hanging at the top of power poles that causes disconnection of the entire power line. In this case owners of power lines sustain damage as well, but such power lines dangerous for birds cause much more damage to populations of wild birds especially birds of prey.

Are there laws to protect birds?

Environmental legislation of Russia is quite well developed concerning the bird protection under conditions of power line operating:

1. According to Art. 28 of the Federal Law № 52 “On Wildlife” legal persons and citizens must take actions to prevent illness and death of wildlife during the agricultural and other works as well as the operation of irrigation and drainage systems, vehicles, communication lines and power lines.

2. According to Art. 56 of the Federal Law № 52 “On Wildlife” legal persons and citizens, causing harm to wildlife and their habitat, should pay the damages voluntarily or by decision of court or court of arbitration in accordance with the rates and methods of calculating damages to wildlife (Order of April, 28 2008 № 107 “On approval of the methodology for calculating the damages caused to wildlife listed in the Red Data book of Russia, as well as other objects of wildlife, but related to hunting and fishing and their habitats).

3. One of the key documents defining the need for conservation and protection of birds during operation of communication and power lines are “Requirements to prevent loss of wildlife in the implementation of production processes, as well as the operation of highways, pipelines, communication lines and power lines”, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation of 13.08.1996, № 997. This document regulates the procedure of production processes; in particular Art. 34 points out the obligation of power lines in the medium voltage range (6-10 kV) retrofitting with bird protection devices.

For details, see “Legislation of the Russian Federation, determining the need to protect the birds during operation of power lines”

Programme “Birds and Power Lines”

The Programme “Birds and Power Lines” of RRRCN aimed at eliminating such factor as the death of birds from electrocution on power lines, on the entire territory of Russia and adjacent states. To achieve this, members of the Network carried out the projects aimed at identifying power lines dangerous to birds and forcing their owners to reconstruct or retrofit with bird protection devices their power lines. In order for this activity is developed, and new participants are involved, this portal has been created.

Here, anyone can:

- Share the information about dangerous power lines,

- Add data on power lines dangerous for birds and electrocution birds in Web-GIS “Protected Areas and anthropogenic disturbances”,

- Draw up an Act on the results of inspection of dangerous power lines and a letter to the Prosecutor’s Office,

- Send the Act to the programme coordinators which will send it to the bodies supervising and controlling compliance with the environmental laws to oblige the owners of power lines to the reconstructing or retrofitting with bird protection devices their lines.

Programmes of Partners:

Programme “Birds and Energetic” of the Russian Bird Conservation Union

Programme “Birds and Power Lines” of the Ecological Center “Dront”

Programme “Birds and Power Lines” of the Siberian Environmental Center

Collection of publications on the problem “Birds and Power Lines” on the website of the Middle Volga Birdwatching Club

LLC «Eco-NIOKR»

LLC «ITS»

LLC «AVIS»