Installation of the birds’ protection measures on the high voltage electricity grid coming to the end
Seeking to decrease the birds’ mortality cases due to short circuit or striking into the wires and to improve breeding conditions of the Common Kestrel, AB LITGRID continued installation of the protection measures, planned within the EU financed LIFE + project “Installation of the bird protection measures on the high voltage electricity transmission grid in Lithuania “ No LIFE13 BIO/LT/001303. The visibility of the wires was increased in the most dangerous for the birds places. During the project implementation time until January 1, 2018, spiral type markers for increasement of the visibility of wires were installed on the electricity lines between 337 pillars. 75 sections were additionally upgraded with the special visibility increasing markers (see the picture).
Markers. Photo by Marius Karlonas
For the protection of birds, mainly White Storks, against the death due to the short circuit, according the study prepared at the beginning the project, special protection measures on 4051 poles were constructed: on 2304 poles Wishbone and on 1747 poles Saucer type of installations. Wishbone type of installations prevent birds from landing on the most dangerous places of high voltage electricity transmission lines supports, while Saucer type of installations fitted over the supports’ insulators, reduce chances of the short circuit.
Wishbone and Saucer type of installations. Photo by Marius Karlonas
Apart from the birds’ protection measures, according to the study recommendations, prepared at the beginning of the project, all 500 nesting boxes for the Common Kestrels were erected on the poles of the high voltage electricity transmission lines. A great achievement of the project – during the last two seasons 500 chicks have been hatched in these artificial nests.
Nesting box of the Common Kestrel. Photo by Marius Karlonas
Implementation of all practical conservation activities is coming to the end, however in 2018 implementation of the practical measures will continue on the limited extent. At the beginning of the year it was planned to erect 30 additional nesting boxes for kestrels. The monitoring of the protection measures activities was actively carried out this spring too.
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Projektą „Paukščių apsaugos priemonių įdiegimas Lietuvos aukštos įtampos elektros energijos perdavimo tinkluose“ (LIFE13 BIO/LT/001303) finansuoja Europos Sąjungos aplinkos finansinis mechanizmas „LIFE+“, LR Aplinkos ministerija ir projekto partneriai. Projekto pradžia – 2014 m. birželis, planuojama pabaiga – 2018 m. liepa.