From September 23 to 25, 2021, in response to the repeated nesting of the Oriental White Stork and other birds in transmission line pylons in recent years, the CBCGDF Research Office, together with bird experts, conducted on-site research on the local habitat of the Oriental White Stork and nesting in transmission line pylons with the assistance of the State Grid Shandong Province Electric Power Company and the State Grid Dongying Power Supply Company, as well as the support of the Dongying Wildlife Protection Association, before the arrival of the autumn and winter migration season this year.
The Oriental White Stork belongs to the world's endangered birds and national level key protected animals, with a global population of about 6,300 according to the statistics of 2018-2021. As a large wading bird, the Oriental White Stork likes to nest in trees above 8 meters. Dongying City, as the alluvial plain of the Yellow River Delta and the retreating sea, lacks tall trees, while many places in Dongying such as reeds, marshes, rice fields and fish ponds have sufficient food, which is very suitable for the survival and reproduction of the Oriental White Stork, and according to the statistics in recent years, as many as nearly 2,000 Oriental White Storks make their home in Dongying every year. Therefore, Dongying City is also known as "the hometown of the Oriental White Stork in China.
The scope of the survey involved the transmission lines 220 kV harbor I and II lines along tower 14 and the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve. The survey included natural habitats, major vegetation, major local wild birds in season, the relationship and preference of the Oriental White Stork to the line network and towers and their reasons, and explored effective solutions for line bird harmony.
In addition, the researchers also learned through consultation and interviews about the current measures taken by local power supply companies to protect lines and love birds, and actively sought ways to ensure the "double safety" of birds and power grids. For example, the State Grid Dongying Kenli District Power Supply Company has tried to build artificial bird nest platforms on utility poles, develop a pole "real estate" project, relocate bird nests built on top of utility poles that affect line operation to "safe areas", and develop bird nest relocation aids with electricity. relocation aids; through the bird nest "moving", timely removal of safety hazards, to ensure the safety of birds along the power grid, while eliminating single-phase grounding, short circuits, flashover faults, insulator insulation degradation and distribution line unplanned power outages caused by birds nesting on poles.
For rare birds such as the Oriental White Stork and Black-billed Gull, the Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve has carried out breeding recruitment projects, built artificial recruitment nests and attracted birds such as the Oriental White Stork to move in successfully, while monitoring them in real time through cameras. According to statistics, the number of birds in the Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve has reached 370 species in 2020. Oiental white stork appeared in the reserve for the first time in 2003, and by 2016, this endangered bird with high ecological requirements has been breeding young in the nature reserve for 13 consecutive years, and some oriental white storks no longer make seasonal migration and take this area as a long-term habitat.
In recent years, the survival crisis faced by birds has attracted great attention from all sides, and it has become a global consensus to save endangered birds, maintain ecological balance and carry out biodiversity conservation. Here, we call on all walks of life to pay attention to the migration protection of the Oriental White Stork and other birds, and make joint efforts to promote the harmonious coexistence of humans and birds.
Original Chinese article: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/0hlHpB8Z0p9QDrck4-7fhg
Translator/ Lucy
Editor/ Chloe
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