Automated systems for monitoring avian interactions with utility structures and evaluating the effectiveness of mitigative measures

Avian interactions with utility structures can be positive or negative for both birds and utilities. Negative interactions (e.g., electrocutions or collisions) can be fatal to birds as well as cause outages. Positive interactions (e.g., falcon nesting on utility stacks) are good for birds and for the industry (public image). The nationwide goal of reducing negative avian interactions is shared by the electric power industry, the communications industry, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and many NGOs. In the last 20 years many advances have been made in the areas of bird-friendly structure designs and mitigation approaches. A major hindrance to achieving further progress lies with our limited ability to observe avian interactions with structures, which occur rarely relative to the numbers of birds. The R&D effort described produces two types of automated system, one to monitor and document bird collisions with wires and guys (Bird Strike Indicator), and the other to videograph bird activities on and around structures (Bird Activity Monitor). Used separately and together, these automated observation systems enable determination of the frequency of avian interactions (e.g., strikes) as well as examination of bird behaviors that can lead to injuries and fatalities.