Innovative bird protection strategies safeguard crested ibises and power grids in Hanzhong

In April, crested ibises and egrets glided through the sky above Huangtang, a waterside scenic site in Hanzhong, Shaanxi province. Ren Xiang, an employee of the transmission line maintenance center at a Hanzhong power supply company, affiliated with State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power Corp, skillfully operated a drone to install a new type of intelligent bird protection device on a transmission tower.

Featuring dual protective functions of color warnings and scent guidance, the device creates a safety barrier for birds that prefer nesting in high places.

"This device is our independently developed, patented innovation. The scent agent has undergone professional testing and fully complies with environmental standards. It effectively guides birds away from the transmission towers without disrupting their natural behaviors," Ren said.

Hanzhong lies at the southern foothills of the Qinling Mountains, with the Hanjiang River flowing through it. This fertile land is not only home to the crested ibis, dubbed as the "Oriental Jewel" but also the environmental frontier for the Hanzhong company, committed to safeguarding light and preserving ecology.

As the crested ibis population continues to grow, transmission towers, with their towering and stable structure, have gradually become a favored nesting spot for these birds. How to strike a balance between ensuring the crested ibis breeds in peace and maintaining the safe operation of the power grid is a concern of the Hanzhong company.

To address the concern, the company has been advancing the Lifeline for Migratory Birds public welfare program in recent years. Upholding the principle of "ensuring grid safety while protecting wildlife tranquility" and guided by the strategies of "differentiated protection, prioritized diversion, and proactive innovation," it has pioneered a sustainable path for harmonious coexistence between the power grid and birdlife.

Its targeted conservation efforts include conducting a comprehensive review of nearly 20 years of bird activity and its interactions with power lines, categorizing risk areas into three levels and creating a high-frequency bird activity map. This map clearly marks nesting hot spots, foraging corridors and areas requiring special attention for species like the crested ibis, egret and heron.

Based on this map, the company has equipped 67 high-risk areas with various bird protection devices. Infrared drone patrols monitor 53 high-risk nests, while the Qinling Mountains Ecological Guardians task force collaborates with enthusiastic local bird guardians to weave a warm and protective safety net for avian wildlife.

The company has also revised installation standards for bird protection devices based on varying terrains and bird behavior, with special attention given to areas around towers frequently visited by birds in the past five years, as well as mountainous regions and water sources. Any inadequacies in bird protection measures or issues with aging devices are meticulously documented and addressed within a set time frame.

In Yangxian county, known as the "homeland of the crested ibis", the company has adopted an integrated approach that combines patrolling, cleaning, protecting and public outreach. Based on local ecological characteristics and bird activity patterns over the past five years, the service area has been divided into three categories: core ibis habitats, urban-rural fringes and mountainous villages.

For over 400 transmission towers and 20 kilometers of power lines, individual protection profiles have been established under the principle of "one tower, one file; one line, one strategy", identifying more than 260 high-risk nesting spots with precision.

Protection teams employ drones to capture panoramic images of the towers, and they have installed over 800 specialized devices, including audiovisual guiding systems, baffles and plant-based protective scents to gently steer birds away from hazardous areas using natural cues.

Through a combination of technology and care, they are creating a safeguarding umbrella for countless winged creatures.

To better understand the lives of birds, the company has installed infrared video monitoring devices around rivers, ponds, reservoirs and other water sources frequently visited by birds. These devices operate around-the-clock, closely observing the birds' activity patterns.

From March to August and October to December each year, critical periods for bird nesting and reproduction, the company's staff members venture into forests and wetlands to document first-hand information on bird nesting, foraging and roosting behaviors.

Such data are used to create detailed maps of bird habits. These observations not only provide a solid basis for targeted protection efforts but also make power grid planning more "bird-aware", according to the company.

When constructing new power lines, they proactively avoid corridors between major foraging and roosting areas of large birds, reducing "spatial conflicts" between the grid and avian wildlife at the source.

Moreover, the company has formulated the 2026 Bird Conservation and Line Protection Work Plan, establishing a working system centered on equipment managers, with line protectors and information officers jointly participating. Monthly evaluations and quarterly summaries are conducted to ensure responsibilities are clearly assigned and fulfilled by everyone involved.

In addition, the company has forged close collaborations with ecological protection organizations such as the Hanzhong Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve Administration, the Shanshui Conservation Center and the Yangxian Bird Lovers Association.

Bird experts are invited to grid training sessions to share insights on the habits and needs of crested ibises and other rare bird species, while power supply staff members visit the reserve to identify and address potential electric safety hazards. Through frequent discussions and joint actions, both sides have built a shared understanding and a collective approach to community-based prevention and governance, working together to protect every "Oriental Jewel" and its feathered neighbors on this land.