With more than 45,000 miles of overhead power line facilities throughout six western states, it’s quite a challenge for Pacific Power to identify and alter poles that pose an electrocution risk to hawks, eagles, ravens and other protected birds.

Pacific Power, however, has made great strides in minimizing the danger of its facilities to birds, which can be injured or killed if they perch on power line structures.

In cooperation with resource biologists, Pacific Power has developed an innovative process to identify power lines that present a danger to birds. The risk assessment information helps direct resources to specific areas and to seek out and retrofit poles that present the greatest risk to birds. 

Each year in the summer and fall, trained biologists conduct surveys under power lines in rural areas where there are known concentrations or suitable habitat for raptors. Observers walk the lines looking at the poles and the ground for evidence of birds near electrical facilities. 

Pacific Power conducted risk assessment surveys in Utah and western Wyoming in 2001-02, looking at approximately 75,000 poles. Remedial action plans were developed and line crews altered the high-risk structures. 

“Changing structures to protect birds can include putting coverings over exposed wires or equipment and possibly even reframing a structure to provide more space between wires,” explained Jim Burruss, lead environmental analyst for Pacific Power. 

In 2004, lines in the Klamath Basin area of Oregon and California were surveyed. This area, also known as Butte Valley, has one of the highest concentrations of bald eagles in the lower 48 states, and also serves as home to many golden eagles. Pacific Power is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to identify priority areas and action plans. 

Survey data from the nearly 4,500 poles is being analyzed, and remedial actions will be taken on many transformer poles and other high-risk lines after the irrigation season later this year.

Pacific Power’s proactive bird program helps improve service reliability by correcting and minimizing bird-caused power outages as well as providing birds a safer place to perch or nest.