EDG West will secure nearly 500 poles and place 207 marking devices along the electricity distribution network in the Montana region to minimize the risk of bird collisions. To date, 152 metal platforms for stork nests have been installed and 155 poles have been secured. Another 141 poles are to be secured and 207 marking devices are to be installed.
The activities are part of two projects that EDG West is implementing under the LIFE program together with its partner, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB). Progress on these projects was presented at an event in Lom on May 18.
The aim is to carry out field surveys and to locate the most risky places for birds along the network. One of the key goals of the projects is to develop a standard and subsequently a prototype of a special console to make the poles safe for birds. Prototypes of the secure consoles are now being installed across the network. The next step is for BSPS experts to observe the effect of the safeguarding and the new construction to determine whether the objectives have been achieved – minimized bird mortality resulting from contact with the power distribution network.
To date, under the projects “Life for Birds” (LIFE16 NAT/BG/000612) and “Safe Flight for Danube Birds” (LIFE19 NAT/SK/001023), a total of 3,680 poles have been secured, 1,200 diverters have been placed and nearly 940 storks have been installed platforms on the territory of Western Bulgaria.
The company was awarded for its overall environmental protection policy and was ranked 1st in the “Energy and Water Sector” category in the prestigious competition for the Greenest Company.
