2022
Bulgaria
Bulgarian DSO, EGD West, undertook a myriad of measures to protect threatened birds along their lines. By working with stakeholders and the public, EGD West was able to upgrade their lines, improve public awareness of the relationship between electricity infrastructure and birdlife, and reduce bird mortality along the grid.
Highlights
01
Worked with government ministries to develop national standards for bird-safe power lines.
02
Cameras installed to monitor White Stork nesting sites along the grid.
03
Developed and installed bird-safe electric pylon prototypes in selected grid sections.
04
Created a public drawing competition called “Electric Poles – Home of Wild Birds”.
Main Information
To mitigate the risk of unnatural mortality of threatened birds due to collision with the electric grid, and to preserve the breeding, wintering, and migrating sites of birds such as the White Stork, Electrodistribution Grid West (EGD West) used data and GIS mapping to determine the most effective locations for bird protection measures.
EGD West worked with the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds as well as relevant government ministries to insulate power lines, install bird diversion markers, and safeguard and monitor White Stork nests along the lines. They undertook a public awareness campaign to increase understanding of how the threatened birds can live in harmony with the upgraded, bird-friendly grid
other practices
