2007

This BirdLife Position Paper includes references to relevant EU legislative instruments, but can also be applied by all signatory countries of the Bern and Bonn Conventions, as the underlying principles are the same. All BirdLife Partners in their respective countries are therefore invited to adopt this position.

The transport and distribution of electricity from generation plants to users is mainly by overhead power lines. These have continued to increase in number and extent, often at the expense of wildlife. Depending on the design employed, pylons and electrical wiring can cause fatal injuries to birds, through electrocution and collision, especially affecting large birds such as storks and raptors. There is an urgent need to agree on standards for the installation and design of power lines that minimize such adverse effects, greatly reducing the risk of bird mortality.

To this end, the Conference of the Parties to the Bonn Convention adopted Resolution 7.4 on Electrocution of Migratory Birds (Seventh Meeting, Bonn, 18-24 September 2002) and the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats adopted Recommendation No 110 (2004) to minimize the negative effects of overhead power lines on birds. The latter was based on a report by BirdLife International which forms the basis of the following text.

The report reviews the negative impacts on numerous wild bird species (including migratory species) in Europe and worldwide caused by overhead power lines, conductors and supports (including those related to railway infrastructure) resulting in increasing mortality through electrocution, collision and also reduced availability of roosting, wintering and breeding areas, especially when power lines cross open environments. The report provides explicit guidance on current technical standards.