PowerLines4Birds: How Are We Making Power Lines Safer for Birds?

As we explored in the last article, the coexistence of power lines and large birds, such as vultures, storks, and eagles, presents a complex and ongoing challenge. Electrocution of these magnificent animals often occurs when they use the poles as perches and simultaneously touch two phases of the power line or one phase and a grounded element, such as a crossarm.

Historically in Portugal, the first attempt to mitigate this risk involved insulating the conductor at the support using self-vulcanizing mastic tape (1), extending the protection 1.2 meters on each side. However, this solution proved to be short-lived over time and eventually attracted the curiosity of more perceptive birds, such as corvids, which actively attempted to remove this material. Subsequent mitigation efforts involved the implementation of various types of conductor protectors (2 and 3). However, technical problems arose with some of these devices, resulting in unwanted outages in the power grid. 

1. Self-vulcanizing mastic tape
2. Conductor protector (sleeve) (type 1)
3. Conductor protector (type 2)

The Innovation of the Combined Solution

Advances in technical and biological knowledge have made it possible to overcome these initial limitations and have led to the development of a more robust method known as the "Combined Solution." This is an advanced insulation technique applied to medium- and high-voltage supports, designed to cover the live parts near the poles and prevent birds’ long wings from causing the dreaded short circuit. This method gets its name from combining different layers of insulating materials with highly durable mechanical fasteners, ensuring continuous protection for bare conductors.

The installation of this composite insulation follows a strict, manual procedure, typically carried out by teams highly specialized in live-line work. The perfect combination of these materials is essential to prevent the coatings from slipping or suffering premature degradation due to water infiltration and intense solar radiation. Its on-site application involves the following steps:

1. The team applies self-curing mastic tape directly to the bare conductor.
2. Next, a flexible protective sleeve made of silicone is installed.
3. The process concludes with the installation of specialized insulating covers over the metal clamps used for securing or suspending the cable, effectively sealing the points where the current flows.

Example of a combined solution with a suspended clamp guard

As part of the LIFE PowerLines4Birds project, plans are in place to retrofit 1,820 power poles with this type of solution, which has demonstrated approximately 90% effectiveness in mitigating the risk of electrocution in previous projects. During the project, the partners’ swift action was essential for addressing a situation involving a risk of electrocution. In 2025, a high mortality rate was observed along a power line in the Tejo Internacional region, with several vultures and other birds of prey, including black vultures, being identified. As a result, the combined solution was applied to the power line’s support structures, making it safer for birdlife.

Left: Vultures standing on a tray. Right: E-REDES team repairing a support structure

The successful implementation of this technical solution would not have been possible without the partner organizations that make up LIFE PowerLines4Birds. This knowledge has been built up over the course of several LIFE projects, as well as through ongoing work within a pioneering partnership launched in 2003, the Technical Committee for Monitoring Power Lines and Birds (CTALEA), which brings together E-REDES, ICNF, SPEA, Quercus, and LPN. Now in its tenth edition (Avifauna Protocol X), which remains in effect until 2027, this commitment has made it possible to fund, implement, and rigorously monitor the effectiveness of these mitigation measures in the field. LIFE PowerLines4Birds is enabling the implementation of these mitigation measures on a larger scale and with a broader impact, both geographically and for birdlife. 

LIFE PowerLines4Birds