Western Power is committed to protecting animals living in areas close to the electricity network.
Birds are possibly at greatest risk of coming into contact with Western Power's network as they collide with powerlines and nest in substations and on pole tops. Western Power employs a number of measures to help protect birds such as installing nesting platforms, bird diverters and roosting deterrents to powerlines and pole tops.
These measures are usually put in place in known risk areas, identified through fauna surveys, reports of bird deaths and/or frequent power interruptions attributed to birds colliding with live electrical equipment. Recently, Western Power installed bird diverters on the transmission line between Bibra Lake and Cannington, where it crosses the bushland corridor at the Canning River near the artificial wetlands at the intersection of Nicholson Road and Roe Highway, as well as the artificial wetland in Whaleback Golf Course.
Bird diverters are particularly effective in preventing collisions. They provide a visual image that helps birds avoid colliding with powerlines. Installing these devices can reduce collisions by up to 90%. Diverters are made from solid, non-corrosive, high impact PVC rod. Yellow is one of the most effective colours, as birds are more sensitive to this colour and it is more reflective in low light conditions.
Western Power is completing further assessments into the interaction of birds with the network so it can address the risks to the network and the state's birds. Western Power is in the initial investigation stage of this program and will publish the results when they become available.
Page update on 9 March 2007
