White stork risk mitigation in high voltage electric distribution networks

White stork (Ciconia ciconia L.) population increased dramatically in Portugal over the last decade, leading to an increase in nesting and roosting in the support towers for the electric distribution lines. As a consequence, there are frequent bird fatalities from electrocution and outages in distribution networks are recurrent. Consequently, this causes a poor power quality service and equipment damages, with resulting economic losses for industrial customers and electric distribution companies. To mitigate the risk of stork fatalities and to improve the quality of service, the Portuguese Distribution System Operator (DSO), Energias de Portugal -Distribuic, ao (EDP-D) and Energy Service Regulatory Authority (ERSE) in collaboration with the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) implemented programs to control white storks activities on power distribution equipment. To control nesting activities several models of electrified structures, based on a micro electroshock discharge system, were developed and applied on the top of the line support towers. The installed structures proved to be successful, since no nesting activities were detected. When landing on the structure, the white stork receives a small shock, which is associated with a negative experience, discouraging further attempts to roost on the support structure. Compared to other technologies tested in the past, taking into account maintenance requirements, equipment costs and power supply requirements, the micro electroshock system proved to be the most reliable and advantageous solution. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.