Be aware of birds being caught in power lines

ALMOST 10 per cent of Namibia’s 676 bird species are under threat.
The extent of mortality caused to wildlife, especially birds, by power lines is unknown but expected to be greater than records indicate.

Recently, power line incidents involving the mortality of a Black-chested Snake Eagle and the injury of a Martial Eagle (an endangered species) were reported in the Windhoek area by the Namibia Animal Rehabilitation, Research and Education Centre (Narrec).Inconvenient power outages caused by wildlife electrocutions or collisions may result in blackouts, with high maintenance and repair costs. Both types of impact are cause for concern; both are preventable or could be reduced with appropriate planning and mitigation. NamPower and the Namibia Wildlife Foundation (NNF) started a strategic partnership last year and embarked on an action plan to raise awareness about the risks that power lines pose to birds, and birds to power lines. According to project leaders Mike and Ann Scott, reporting, monitoring and investigating bird mortality incidents through power lines will be fed into the planning of future power networks. The NamPower-NNF Strategic Partnership has launched a countrywide series of half-day workshops which will focus on promoting awareness and gathering information on the topic.The partnership is funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and aims to become financially sustainable after three years. At these workshops, guidelines will be provided on identifying and reporting important information through the utilisation of a standardised incidents reporting form.In addition, participants will gain insight into the identification of relevant bird species; technical aspects such as GPS operation and photography; sensitive environmental features; different power line structures/designs and their possible impacts on wildlife and vice versa; and the types of mitigation measures. Anyone interested is welcome to attend at Tsumeb on September 22; Otjiwarongo on September 23; Windhoek on October 20; Walvis Bay on October 22 and Keetmanshoop on November 17. ‘A dynamic, integrated Environmental Information Service (EIS) has already been developed that will serve as a free, accessible, useful ‘one-stop-shop’ for public environmental information in Namibia,’ says Mike Scott. ‘The EIS has recently gone online (www.nnf.org.na/EIS) and is available as a proactive planning tool to both NamPower and environmentalists in general.’ Project managers Mike and Ann Scott can be contacted at tel. (063) 68 3026 or mail to enviro.inform@gmail.com and ecoserce@iway.na. At NamPower Danie Louw can be reached at (061) 322 2089 or at Danie.Louw@nampower.com.na. Details are available at www.nnf.org.na/nampowerproject.htm.