Ensuring safe nesting for birds: Installation of nesting platforms for White storks in Portugal

Nesting on electricity pylons presents a significant risk to certain bird species, particularly large birds such as white Storks and Ospreys. Not only does it increase the likelihood of electrocution, but it can also lead to infrastructure damage and outages, posing operational challenges for electricity grid operators. Addressing this issue requires a balance between bird conservation and ensuring the safe functioning of energy networks.

As part of our SafeLines4Birds project, targeted mitigation measures are being implemented to reduce the risks associated with nesting on pylon structures. These include the installation of nesting deterrents and the safe relocation of nests to dedicated platforms. This approach aims to protect birds while maintaining the reliability of the grid.

In Portugal, our partner E-REDES has taken significant steps to address this challenge. Over the past year, five white stork nests have been successfully transferred from electrical structures to safer nesting platforms. The long-term objective is to relocate 25 high-risk nests while implementing deterrents at former nesting sites to prevent further occupation. To date, nine nests have been safely relocated over the last two years.

These efforts demonstrate how collaboration between civil society and electricity grid operators can lead to effective solutions. By proactively managing nesting behaviours, we can ensure the protection of vulnerable bird species, reduce outages, and support grid reliability.