History and Recent Status of Work on Mitigating Power Line Related Bird Mortality in Hungary
MME BirdLife Hungary János BAGYURA, Szabolcs SOLT, Iván DEMETER, Márton HORVÁTH &
Károly NAGY, Péter TÓTH, Éva HORVÁTH, Kálmán SZÜGYI, Gergő HALMOS et al.
Birds and power lines • Electrocution
• Collision
• Nesting structures
Mitigating the electrocution of birds in Hungary • MME / BirdLife Hungary • National Park Directorates & Ministry of Agriculture
• Electric companies • Private and other civil organizations
Main stages of MME’s anti-electrocution program • 1983-2002: Facing the problem, first mitigation measures (J. Bagyura et al.) • 2003-2005: Large scale surveys, large scale mitigation measures (I. Demeter et al.) • 2006-2011: Initiating the changes of pylon design and conflict mapping (M. Horváth et al.) • 2012-2016: 3D modelling (Sz. Solt et al.) • 2017-: ?
CSĂ VOLY 16 October 1983 10 pylons, 4 buzzards, 5 kestrels, 1 red-footed falcon, 3 hooded crows
CROSS-ARM INSULATION PROGRAM initiation 1989-1991
No. of detected ground-closures before and after insulation (Vincze Lรกszlรณ, Madรกrtรกvlat 2000)
Temporary solutions
No. of insulated pylons with cross-arm covers by 2003 NEMZETI PARKOK
OSZLPOK SZÁMA
Bükki Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság
6,760
Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság
2,110
Kiskunsági Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság
2,580
Körös - Maros Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság
5,550
Duna - Ipoly Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság
1,750
Balaton - felvidéki Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság
960
Duna - Dráva Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság
9,850
Aggteleki Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság
2,110
Fertő - Hanság Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság ÖSSZESEN
890 32,560
Ca. 5 % of all medium-voltage pylons
Main stages of MME’s anti-electrocution program • 1983-2002: Facing the problem, first mitigation measures (J. Bagyura et al.) • 2003-2005: Large scale surveys, large scale mitigation measures (I. Demeter et al.) • 2006-2011: Initiating the changes of pylon design and conflict mapping (M. Horváth et al.) • 2012-2016: 3D modelling (Sz. Solt et al.) • 2017-: ?
Imperial eagle LIFE project 2003-2005
Large scale mitigation measures between 2003 and 2010 Imperial Eagle LIFE: 10 831 pylons KÖVICE (Ministry of Environment): 6 608 pylons Red-footed LIFE: 4400 pylons Saker Falcon Life : 6 600 pylons
All together between 1989 and 2010:
60 999 pylons (ca. 10% of dangerous pylons)
Main stages of MME’s anti-electrocution program • 1983-2002: Facing the problem, first mitigation measures (J. Bagyura et al.) • 2003-2005: Large scale surveys, large scale mitigation measures (I. Demeter et al.) • 2006-2011: Initiating the changes of pylon design and conflict mapping (M. Horváth et al.) • 2012-2016: 3D modelling (Sz. Solt et al.) • 2017-: ?
Size table (in order to use a same language with engineers) Parameters determining the safety distances to be held around the birds seat (landing surfaces)
Minimal distances of phases (2D model): 1200 mm
In inclined plane (30° - 60°):
1600 mm In horizontal plane (0° - 30°):
In vertical plane (60° - 90°):
1200 mm
(Distances of bare wires)
In case of phase-phase short circuit allways should be considered the „large-sized bird category”!
Electrocution priority values of medium-voltage power lines (outside settlements)
Accessible Sky Agreement 26 February 2008
Main stages of MME’s anti-electrocution program • 1983-2002: Facing the problem, first mitigation measures (J. Bagyura et al.) • 2003-2005: Large scale surveys, large scale mitigation measures (I. Demeter et al.) • 2006-2011: Initiating the changes of pylon design and conflict mapping (M. Horváth et al.) • 2012-2016: 3D modelling (Sz. Solt et al.) • 2017-: ?
Bird friendly solutions on existing lines
Solutions for each categories (even if already modified by „oldschool” technologies) Using MME’s new recommendations based on modeling bird-size categories and regarding limitations demonstrated in 2013 Anyhow: few projects, slow process (no exact data on recent no.)
Future directions – Recent activities Optimal scaling of the head of mid-voltage pylons → Bird-friendly pylon types
Optimal vertical and horizontal scaling of pylon heads regarding to bird size categories
3D Modelling of Safety spaces and distances according to Bird-size categories
Made by: Szabolcs Solt, BirdLife Hungary
Modelling critical safety spaces and distances (Prevention of phase-to-phase and ground-to-phase short-circuits on mid-voltage electric pylons)
„A� category = Large-sized birds
Safety distances
Landing surface
Made by: Szabolcs Solt, BirdLife Hungary
Critical safety spaces and distances (Prevention of phase-to-phase and ground-to-phase short-circuits on mid-voltage electric pylons)
„B� category = Medium-sized birds
Safety distances
Landing surface
Made by: Szabolcs Solt, BirdLife Hungary
Critical safety spaces and distances (Prevention of phase-to-phase and ground-to-phase short-circuits on mid-voltage electric pylons)
„C� category = Small-sized birds
Safety distances Landing surface
Made by: Szabolcs Solt, BirdLife Hungary
Critical safety spaces and distances (Prevention of phase-to-phase and ground-to-phase short-circuits on mid-voltage electric pylons)
„D� category = Tiny-sized birds
Safety distances Landing space
Made by: Szabolcs Solt, BirdLife Hungary
Critical safety spaces and distances (Prevention of phase-to-phase and ground-to-phase short-circuits on mid-voltage electric pylons)
Safety distances of Large-sized Birds („A� category)
Made by: Szabolcs Solt, BirdLife Hungary
Typical species of the category: Eagles (see eagles, imperial eagles, Golden eagle), Storks (White and Black Stork), Herons (Grey Heron, Great Egret, etc.)
Safety distances of Medium-sized Birds („B� category)
Made by: Szabolcs Solt, BirdLife Hungary
Typical species of the category: Buzzards (Buzzard, Long-legged B., Rough-legged B.), Hawk, Harriers, Large Falcons (Saker, Lanner), Eagle-owl, Common Raven
Safety distances of Small-sized Birds („C� category)
Made by: Szabolcs Solt, BirdLife Hungary
Typical species of the category: Small Falcons (Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon), Owls (Barn owl, Tawny owl, Long-eared owl, Little owl), Rollers, Corvids (Rook, Hooded crow, Western jackdaw, Eurasian magpie), Pigeons (European turtle dove, Eurasian collared dove, etc.)
Safety distances of Tiny-sized Birds („D� category)
Made by: Szabolcs Solt, BirdLife Hungary
Typical species of the category: Swallows (Barn swallow), Larks (Eurasian skylark), Thrushes (Common blackbird), Shrikes (Red-backed shrike, Great grey shrike), Eurasian jay, Starlings (Common starling), Sparrows (Eurasian tree sparrow), Emberizidae (Corn bunting)
3D Modelling of Safety spaces and distances Example: B = Medium-sized birds
Made by: Szabolcs Solt, BirdLife Hungary
Modelling critical safety spaces and distances (Prevention of phase-to-phase and ground-to-phase short-circuits on mid-voltage electric pylons)
New Mid-voltage pylon type designs in Hungary using the 3D Modelling of MME/BirdLife Hungary – 1.
New Mid-voltage pylon type designs in Hungary using the 3D Modelling of MME/BirdLife Hungary – 2.
New Mid-voltage pylon type designs in Hungary using the 3D Modelling of MME/BirdLife Hungary – 3.
Main stages of MME’s anti-electrocution program • 1983-2002: Facing the problem, first mitigation measures (J. Bagyura et al.) • 2003-2005: Large scale surveys, large scale mitigation measures (I. Demeter et al.) • 2006-2011: Initiating the changes of pylon design and conflict mapping (M. Horváth et al.) • 2012-2016: 3D modelling (Sz. Solt et al.) • 2017-: ?
Discussion (the same as in 2009…) We already know: • Where are the most dangerous conflict areas • How to modify power lines into bird friendly types
We still don’t know: • Who will finance the modifications • How long will it take to reach significant decrease in bird mortality among power lines
Thank you for your attention on their behalf!
Red-footed Falcons (Peter Tóth – BNPD)