2024
Bulgaria
The “LIFE Safe Grid for Burgas” project, funded by the LIFE programme of the European Union, aims to conserve threatened bird species in the Burgas Lakes region by preventing unnatural mortality caused by electrocution and collision with power lines. This is achieved through the installation of bird flight diverters, insulating hazardous pylons, and converting overhead power lines to underground cables, reducing bird deaths and power disruptions.
Highlights
01
2,000 hazardous pylons insulated, and 75 km of aerial conductors marked with 2,000 bird diverters, reducing collision risks by 90%.
02
58 km of overhead power lines replaced with 52 km of underground cables, eliminating electrocution and collision risks in key areas.
03
The project contributes to reducing 15,000-150,000 bird deaths annually and prevents power outages, benefiting local communities and wildlife.
Main Information
The “LIFE Safe Grid for Burgas” project, funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme, is committed to protecting threatened bird species in Bulgaria’s Burgas Lakes region. This area, part of the Natura 2000 network and located along the Via Pontica flyway, is one of Europe’s most significant migratory routes, providing critical breeding, wintering, and stopover sites for over 330 bird species, including globally endangered species such as the Dalmatian Pelican and the Red-breasted Goose. The project aims to prevent unnatural bird mortality caused by electrocution and collisions with overhead power lines.
The project employs a range of strategies to mitigate these risks. Specially designed “firefly” bird diverters are installed along high-risk power lines, increasing visibility and reducing collisions. In addition, more than 2,000 hazardous pylons are being retrofitted with insulating caps to prevent birds from contacting live conductors, which is the primary cause of electrocutions. In areas with the highest risk, overhead power lines are being replaced with underground cables, effectively eliminating collision and electrocution risks.
By using innovative techniques, such as drones to install diverters in inaccessible areas, the project reduces its environmental impact and sets new standards for conservation practices. This initiative not only safeguards bird populations but also enhances the reliability of electricity supply for local communities, reducing outages caused by bird interactions with power lines and decreasing maintenance costs.
other practices
