ERP North installs new type of bird protection devices in the village of Stojer

At the initiative of ERP North, bird protection devices of a new type were installed on electricity distribution facilities in the Dobrich village of Stojer. The devices are designed for placement on ROS-type disconnectors. In this area, part of the main migration route of birds from Europe to Africa and back, namely Via Pontica, an increased risk to the health and life of birds has been identified by ecologists and experts of the EPP North. It was decided that the pilot placement of these bird protection devices should be before the start of the migration period of the feathered animals.

During the migration of birds at the end of summer from Europe on their way to Africa, they pass through our country and in the evenings land for the night on trees and poles in the open arable lands. Since storks have a large wingspan, which reaches more than two meters, when landing on a pole and simultaneously leaning against the current-carrying parts of the facilities, an electric shock occurs from the resulting short circuit. A challenge for the electricity distribution company is that in recent years birds have changed their migration path, which requires the identification of new places with poles dangerous for the health and life of birds in different regions of North-East Bulgaria.

Activities for the protection of birds in recent months EPP North has also been developing under the large-scale project”Safe skies for birds in North-East Bulgaria”. The project is a joint initiative of ERP North and the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds — a partner of BirdLife International in the country. The aim of the project is to prevent unnatural mortality among globally endangered bird species caused by electric shock and collision with overhead power lines by applying best practices. The project targets 16 bird species that are priority for LIFE funding — 15 of them are included in the Birds Directive, 10 species are included in the Red List of World Endangered Species and 14 species are protected in Europe.

The main objectives of the project are:

• preventing unnatural bird mortality by isolating 10,200 hazardous electrical poles and marking overhead wires with 2,000 diverters in 28 Natura 2000 project areas and in key corridors between special protected areas;
• creation of a system for future monitoring of bird mortality along all power lines in North-Eastern Bulgaria;
• providing 150 safe nesting sites for two of the target species on dangerous electrical poles by installing birdhouses.