Literature Review on Mitigation Measures for Bird Electrocutions Occurring Due to Streamers on Transmission Power Lines

Simple Summary

Bird streamer faults result in a short circuit, which may be accompanied by an outage in the electricity supply. This causes damage to the electrical infrastructure and may result in bird mortality. A detailed literature review on sub-transmission lines (44–132 kV) and transmission lines (132–765 kV) shows that there are several measures used internationally and nationally to reduce streamer-related faults. Bird perch deterrents, when placed, installed, and monitored correctly, are highly effective in reducing streamer faults.

Abstract

Bird streamer faults occur when the streamer, i.e., bird excretion, bridges the gap between two energized components or an energized and an earthed component of a tower structure. This results in a short circuit, which may be accompanied by an outage in the electricity supply. Due to the impact of these faults on electrical infrastructure and bird mortality, a detailed literature review to identify effective mitigation measures for sub-transmission lines (44–132 kV) and transmission lines (132–765 kV) was conducted. The findings show that there are several measures used internationally to reduce streamer-related faults, e.g., bird perch deterrents, shields, changing tower design configurations, changing insulator types and properties, and bird runways. Bird perch deterrents are typically most effectively used by many utilities; however, it is imperative that the perch deterrents are placed and installed correctly. Placement should be above potential problematic areas—to prevent the bridging of the gaps—at various points on different tower structures. Moreover, bird guards need to be monitored and maintained to ensure effectiveness over time. The involvement of a range of stakeholders when making environmental management decisions, such as researching and implementing the best mitigation measures, is also critical to ensure continued success.

1. Introduction

Bird mortality by electrocution on power lines is a global problem that has become more prevalent in recent years as the energy demand increases, resulting in infrastructure growth, often in previously undeveloped areas [1,2,3]. Large species such as vultures, eagles, and storks are particularly vulnerable [4,5,6]. The electrocution of birds is not just a conservation issue; it also has serious economic consequences due to the disruption to power supplies and thereby presents a cause for concern among electrical utilities globally [7,8]. Energy utilities have several thousands of kilometers of power lines and cables, with grids expected to grow in the future; therefore, minimizing bird fatalities on both existing and future power lines is critical [9].

The electrocution of a bird occurs when a gap is bridged (completely or within close proximity) between two energized components (e.g., conductors) or an energized and an earthed (also called ‘grounded’) component of a power line structure. This results in a short circuit, with the electric current flowing through the bird’s body, and electrocution, which, in rare cases, can be accompanied by an outage in the electricity supply. The current that results in the deaths of birds measures in the order of 100 mA [10]. Streamer faults occur when it is the streamer and not the body of the bird that bridges this gap. Bird streamers refer to the long ‘streams’ of fecal matter ejected through its cloaca [6]. A streamer entering the air gap between the conductors and the power line structure (e.g., a transmission tower) can sometimes lead to flashover [11]. The flashover event may not kill a bird if the arc terminates on the structure [12,13].

Bird streamers were first identified in the 1920s as a bird-related cause of transmission line faults [14]. Several studies cite streamer-induced faults as a cause of flashover on transmission lines [7,15,16]. Ref. [6] describes streamer faults as flashover caused by the long excretions of large birds, whereby the air gap between a structure (the perch) and a conductor is short-circuited. Some studies have simulated streamer faults in laboratory conditions for high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) lines as well as HVDC lines, with [17,18,19,20,21] providing strong experimental evidence for this problem. Laboratory tests using 50–60 cm³ of substitute fecal-type material have sufficiently bridged vertical phase-to-ground air gaps on typical 230 kV and 400 kV DC transmission lines [20]. Conductivity and viscosity ranges of 4000–11,000 μS/cm and 39.96–197.31 mm²/s [18] and ranges of 5900–6100 μS/cm [16], respectively, were investigated. The minimum length of streamers that results in flashover as described in these studies is 2.8 m when the streamer is 5 cm away from the insulator string. The conductivity, viscosity, and volume of the bird streamer are all important influencing factors regarding bird streamer flashover. With an increase in these values, the flashover probability rises [18]. The typical streamer fault appears to flash across the air gap and does not follow an insulator creepage path, as observed on pollution faults [22]. However, if there is sufficient pollution at the live end of the insulator, a streamer-induced fault may initially travel along the insulator at the live end. It is extremely difficult to trace as a cause of faulting because it leaves almost no evidence on the electrical infrastructure [6].

There is a large gap in the understanding of the extent of the risk of electrocution of a bird due to a streamer flashover. The large variation is most likely due to the practical difficulty in observing a streamer occurring. Streamer-related faults may not always be lethal to birds, as streamers are often released as a bird departs from a structure. However, in some cases, flashover mortalities do occur [7,15,23]. Bird electrocutions from streamers are rare, with 12 incidents documented from 2014 to 2022 in the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Central Incident Register (CIR), at the South African power utility Eskom (Oscar Mohale, EWT 2022 pers comm). Electrocution from power lines is one of the key threats to Cape vultures, Gyps coprotheres, in South Africa, with data suggesting that the mortality of adult vultures makes a significant contribution to the low juvenile and immature survival rates [24]. In rare cases, electrocuted birds can cause bush fires, as the burning carcass falls on dry grass. Incidents can also cause a break in the continuity of the electrical supply and damage to infrastructure. It is almost impossible to see such an incident happen, and, in most instances, the bird is uninjured and flies away. This is in part due to electrical relaying, as the faster operation of relays is expected to result in a lower risk of electrocution due to streamers [23].

The objective of this study was to undertake a literature review on mitigation measures for bird electrocution occurring due to streamers on sub-transmission lines (44–132 kV) and transmission power lines (132–765 kV). For effective mitigation measures to be identified, it is imperative to understand how bird deaths due to streamers are determined and also the conditions under which these occur. In addition, key considerations in enabling the mitigation measures to effectively reduce electrocution/streamer faults are discussed.

2. Indicators and Conditions Present for Streamer Electrocutions to Occur

Bird streamers are difficult to detect and leave very little evidence on structures. There is, therefore, scope to better understand the electrocution risks of birds due to streamers and how they differ from other types of faults due to birds, e.g., contamination and nest-related faults. Power line faults that occur due to contamination/pollution are defined as faults that occur due to the presence of bird streamer/droppings on the power line infrastructure, i.e., the repeated build-up of bird droppings on the power line infrastructure results in a flashover. Nest faults are defined as faults that occur due to the presence of bird nests on the power line infrastructure, i.e., the nest material causes a flashover on the power line. The following characteristics present indicators of nesting, contamination, electrocution (caused by the body of a bird), and faults caused by fecal streamers that may or may not cause bird electrocution.

2.1. Indicators of Faults Caused by Bird Nests

• The presence and positions of nests in the pylons are a key indicator;
• These faults can be accompanied by accumulated pollution on insulators;
• They can cause flashover similar to streamers, but, in this case, the flashover is caused by the nest material [25,26];
• There are instances recorded in which nests caught fire, causing pole fires and outages; leakage currents caused by fecal contamination attributable to the increased activity around a nest can contribute to the risk of fire [26].

2.2. Indicators of Faults Caused by Bird Insulator Contamination

• Streamers usually flash through the air, whereas faults due to contamination flash along insulators [26];
• They can be caused by birds of all sizes;
• Contamination faults behave similarly to those caused by other causes of pollution, in that they require the build-up of pollution on the surfaces of insulators; it may take a long time for sufficient pollution to cause a flashover to occur [26];
• Even though the gap is not bridged, the build-up of pollution along the insulator string flashes along the insulator surface during wetting, which may occur some time later [27]; this is in contrast to the streamer mechanism that bridges the air gap and causes an immediate fault.

2.3. Indicators of Faults Caused by Electrocution Due to the Body of a Bird

• This occurs when the body of a bird bridges the distance between two energized components; it can also occur when the body of the bird touches the earthed end and another part of the bird touches the live end of the tower (Figure 1) [5,6,12];
• The bird needs to be large enough (including wingspan) to cause an electrocution fault [28,29,30];
• Flash marks are present on the infrastructure;
• A dead or injured bird with burn marks on its body is found under or close to the power line [5]; on rare occasions, the bird may be removed by scavengers onsite.

2.4. Indicators of Faults Caused by Fecal Streamers That May or May Not Cause an Electrocution

2.4.1. Surrounding Power Line Infrastructure

• Typically, there is a dominant faulting phase or phases that can be traced to the design of the structure, which makes certain phases more vulnerable to bird streamers due to birds being able to perch directly above the phase conductor. Often, the center phase in flat configurations is more vulnerable than the two outer phases. With vertical configurations, the top phase is often the dominant faulting phase [6].
• Typically, the flash marks will be situated on the steelwork directly above the conductor and at the live end of the insulator string, i.e., on the yoke plate, first insulator disk, or corona ring.
• Flash mark(s) on the tower directly above the conductor of a V-string and at the conductor of the V-string [6]; flash marks on the cross-arm or conductor [12]. Similarly, flash marks are found on strainers and burn marks on the conductors and associated steel of the tower [6,22].
• There are no burn marks at the dead end of the insulator, on the power line, as would be the case with a pollution/contamination-induced fault.
• An insulator with flash marks and bird dropping residue; an insulator with the absence of flash marks; or flash marks on only one end of the insulator may be present [12].
• Flashed insulators or conductors, possibly showing burn spots on the upper bridges of metallic structures. Typically, only one or two disks at the live end of the insulator are flashed, with the rest of the string clean, as the arc path does not follow the insulator string but bridges the air gap between the phase conductor and the steelwork above [12].
• Successful reclosing actions of breakers at substations after overcurrent relay trip incidents are observed.
• Faults have also occurred where birds have entered and roosted inside the boat of the tower, i.e., the interior space within the lattice where the phase insulators are attached (Figure 2). Hadeda ibis, Bostrychia hagedash, and the black eagle, Ciraetus pectoralis, in particular, have been observed exploiting the inside of a boat or lattice member within the critical area, which was not retrofitted with bird perch deterrents [31].
• Evidence of roosting, e.g., presence of droppings/pollution on the infrastructure [22].
• Bird pollution on insulators causes flashover when coated sufficiently and then wetted [25].
• Faults tend to be prevalent on the phase situated below the highest and/or most convenient perching space on the tower. Vertical configurations: usually the top phase; horizontal configurations: usually the center phase [6].
• Dead or injured birds with burn marks under a tower after a line fault indicating a flashover [6]. If dead birds with burn marks are found under structures with sufficient clearance to eliminate the possibility of the bird having physically bridged the air gap with its body or wings, it is a strong indication that it was electrocuted via a streamer flashover. The burns comprise small wounds or areas of dry tissue at the current entry and exit points (especially on the wings, legs, bill, or breast). Burns are located in the bird’s cloaca too if the electrocution was caused by a streamer [32]. In other cases, direct contact between the bird’s body and the conductive elements may not be necessary. Instead, electrocution may occur due to an electric arc caused by high relative humidity or rain, making it possible to misattribute electrocutions to streamers. An analysis of the wounds on the bird’s body, both internal and external, is important to distinguish the cause of electrocution, requiring necropsies [32,33,34].

2.4.2. Streamer Fault Characteristics

• Clustering of faults in certain sections of a line [6];
• Dominant faulting phase, especially one that can be described by bird behavior on the specific structure type;
• Bird streamer must occur at a distance of at least 900 mm from a 275 kV power line and 1100 mm from a 400 kV line of the live tower hardware for bird streamer faults to occur [22];
• Transient in nature and only a few in a night;
• The time of day in which most faults occur is 20:00 to 06:00; peaks in streamer faults have been noted at 23:00 and 06:00, with the peak centered around 23:00; the 06:00 peak is probably due to large streamer discharge upon first waking in the morning [12], and streamer faults occur from 04:00 to 08:00 in the morning and 18:00 to 23:00 in the evening [6];
• The standard 3.2 m air gap clearance on 400 kV lines is not necessarily large enough to prevent a flashover for large birds with longer streamer discharge [27].

2.4.3. Bird-Related Characteristics in Streamer Faults

• Lack of natural options for roosting, such as trees in the area of the transient fault [5,8,32];
• Abundant availability of food, agricultural land, sugarcane fields, or waterbodies [8];
• Relation to roosting and feeding habits of the affected species [5,32];
• Presence of certain large bird species; large predatory birds tend to create the greatest risk of flashover, and species such as large birds of prey, herons, eagles, osprey, and certain ibises and stork species are high-risk species; the presence of these birds on towers is a strong indicator that bird streamer faults could be present [6,7];
• The clustering of faults in certain areas could point to birds being attracted to certain sections of the line;
• Seasonality of faults, coinciding with presence of large numbers of migratory birds [6,12], with seasonal patterns related to the presence of birds or their feeding habits, with outages often concentrated in one area, linked to the availability of food or specific habitats, e.g., wetlands [12].

3. Mitigation Solutions for Bird Streamer-Related Electrocutions

Birds that produce a large volume of streamer that bridges the gap between a structure, e.g., the perch, and a conductor cause short circuits, causing a flashover resulting in a line fault. The size of the bird is not relevant, although larger birds do produce larger volumes of droppings, e.g., eagles, storks, and vultures [12,13,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37]. Mitigation solutions should be relatively straightforward, ensuring that the bird does not touch the relevant components, i.e., the bird bridges certain components on a tower structure. There is a large amount of literature available on how to mitigate electrocutions in China [18,29], Afro-Eurasia [38,39], Europe [40,41,42], and Northern America [15]. The mitigation of problematic structures can be accomplished by encouraging birds towards more favorable portions of the structure using perch deterrents. Perch deterrents prevent (or at least deter) birds from perching over critical components such as insulator strings and are, to some extent, successful when the design, placement, and implementation are correct [5]. Refs. [6,16,22] indicate the effectiveness of deterrents in the redirect method, i.e., encouraging birds to perch in low-risk areas, away from conductors.

Anemometers have frequently been used in France, Spain, and Portugal [4]. This is a wind-driven device with a three-cup configuration, which, although expensive, has been proven to prevent nest building above insulators among white storks, i.e., Ciconia ciconia. However, they have been found to not be 100% effective, as some storks block the device and build their nests underneath it [4]. Streamer mitigation is often accomplished by perch deterrents such as cones, which are used to restrict perch access to vulnerable locations [4]. Wires with buoys have been used in Portugal on transmission lines to reduce birds’ perching on the line. The efficiency of this cheap solution has not been evaluated and it may increase the collision risk, so it may not be the ideal solution.

Among the bird deterrent methods used in Japan [43], onsite maintenance workers have reported relatively high effectiveness for spikes, gel repellents, and noisemakers; however, although Japanese transmission line operators have reported the frequent installation of spikes, other techniques are not frequently used, so their long-term effectiveness and practicality remains unclear. Rain causes gel repellents to lose their effectiveness and their use may be limited over long periods. Shocking devices have been used as a perch deterrent [13], producing small, non-lethal shocks to birds to prevent them from perching; this is not used frequently for ethical reasons, and not much information is available on its applicability. Bird runways are mechanically strong, flat, rectangular structures that are placed on the tower as an alternative perching and roosting space [22]. Although birds do land on them, they move from the runways to the center of the tower. Various other bird deterrents, as investigated by [22], e.g., saw tooth devices, crimped wire lugs, shade cloths, and bird landing platforms, have also been implemented but with limited success.

Utilities have used perch deterrents to discourage birds from perching over critical areas, e.g., above all insulators and conductors, thereby preventing flashovers from streamers [6,25]. However, certain birds find a perch foothold despite the presence of bird guards, while others benefit from additional support for their nests. Some birds (e.g., large herons) may even be able to perch over bird guard spikes, where these spikes are shorter than their long legs. Therefore, utilities must first identify the culprit before deciding on the perch deterrent to use [5]. Plastic perch deterrents do present several disadvantages, such as sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and permanent deterioration following a flashover. Metal deterrents are also disadvantageous as they are conductive and may injure birds as they land [31]. In South Africa, large spiked perch deterrents installed above the center phase were effective in resolving streamer problems by moving the birds by one meter or more [26]. Perch deterrents were found to be more effective if they were fitted to the entire power line and not selectively in certain corridors [22]. In the placement of these devices, a critical distance of about one meter on either side of the axis of the air gap has been found to be effective [44].

Increasing the air gap size was found to significantly reduce the number of bird faults, possibly removing the need for perch deterrents. Ref. [22] showed that bird guard installations had tremendous success in reducing the number of transient earth faults on the greater 275 kV transmission lines in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The total number of line faults has been reduced from 9.8 to 2.6 faults per 100 km per annum. This represents a percentage reduction of 74%. The placement of corona rings, although, to some extent, effective as they increase the distance, should not be used, as these reduce the flashover voltage. Studies [45] on vertically suspended composite insulators show that corona rings installed at the conductor end increase the probability of bird streamer-caused flashover, as they extend the electrical ‘reach’ of the conductor. Corona rings installed on the line end of the insulator string in the V-string configuration increase the probability of streamer flashover since they extend the effective HV conductor area [46].

Shields fitted to the tops (and bottoms) of vertical insulators have also been used and shown to be effective [4,7,23]. On transmission towers with suspected eagle-related transient faults, a protective shield can be installed on insulator strings to deflect liquid feces or sticks falling from nests [47]. Shields must be positioned so that, during rain, fecal runoff does not accumulate on other critical structural parts [23]. Ref. [7] recommends the more generic solution of insulator shields instead of perch deterrents for streamer and contamination faults caused by large and small birds combined. The additional shield weight attached to structures must be calculated, and the periodic cleaning of the shields needs to be performed. The IEEE Standard 957-2005 [48] provides a methodology regarding the maintenance of ceramic and non-ceramic insulators, as the periodic cleaning of insulators is beneficial to maintain the insulation resistance.

Changing tower design configurations is also effective, but this is not a retrofit option. For new lines, the use of cross-rope structures is recommended due to the difficulty in providing perching options for birds [4,25]. Vertically configured tower designs with ample perching space on top of the tower, away from the cross-arms, experience fewer faults than horizontally configured designs [6]. Ref. [32] shows that the distance between the point where the bird perches and the nearest live element at a lower level, i.e., the conductor or jumper, can help to mitigate the risks caused by defecation. This is probably due to the larger air gap—i.e., the larger the air gap, the lower the probability of streamer-induced flashover, because a greater volume of excrement is needed to cause a flashover.

As bird-originated contamination increases the likelihood of bird streamer electrocution [26], minimizing the contamination could be regarded as a mitigation method for bird streamer. Ref. [45] showed that changing the insulator types or properties gives little effect, if any, in terms of reducing flashovers caused by bird excrement contamination. The mentioned study indicated that the main type of bird excrement contamination that leads to insulator flashover on 110 kV overhead power lines in Estonia is most probably bird streamer and not deposited bird excrement contamination. Ref. [49] found that replacing glass insulators with composite insulators provided better electrical performance in the presence of bird droppings and recommended the washing of contaminated insulators on structures—by hand or with a “power washer” (via a bucket truck or helicopter). The composite insulators, in comparison, did not need to be washed and were an effective long-term option to reduce faults, but they were relatively expensive and susceptible to bird pecking. Changing the insulator type does not prevent bird streamers from short-circuiting phase conductors and earthed towers; as such, in addition to perching management, the insulator positioning and tower design can play a key role in decreasing the risk of bird streamer faults [45].

Nest boxes [50] and platforms [13] have been identified as alternatives for birds nesting on towers. The elimination of mature trees in certain areas has led to a shortage of viable natural options suitable for birds to nest in. The use of nesting boxes and platforms provides an alternative option for birds to nest and reproduce, making these a possible solution for the protection of rare or threatened species. However, recent investigations of the red-billed buffalo weaver, Bubalornis niger, in Limpopo have shown that the birds sometimes nest on both the tower and platforms, thus indicating that, instead of providing an alternative nesting location, a nest deterrent may be a more effective long-term solution. Visual deterrents, e.g., the use of raptor silhouettes placed on power lines as deterrents, have proven ineffective [51]. Habitat modification can be used in various ways, including the shielding of the line by trees, altering the attractiveness of the habitat close to the line, and changing the disturbance levels close to the line [8]. However, these approaches offer challenges on a spatial scale, i.e., large-scale implementation to manipulate bird movement successfully. Moreover, in some cases, long sections of the line may pose a risk, thereby requiring a significant level of habitat modification, incurring environmental and financial costs.

Instead, permanent solutions—e.g., an avian-safe tower design to minimize the electrocution risk and, if not possible, the insulation or covering of exposed energized parts—are a more cost-effective option.

4. Key Considerations to Reduce Bird-Related Power Outages

Mitigation measures should be encouraged if increases in bird-related outages have been observed. The criteria for the implementation of wildlife interaction deterrent measures should be guided by the frequency and duration of outage occurrences, the cost of occurrences, safety hazards, health hazards, the severity of damage, the customers served, the location of the affected structure/substation, the quality of service, and the need to comply with wildlife protection laws and regulations for utilities. When deciding if mitigation measures are necessary, practitioners should consider the following questions:

• What is the reason that large-bodied birds are present? Is there a lack of natural roosts? Is there an abundance of food sources, agricultural land, sugar cane fields, or ponds [12,52]?
• Are the outages occurring at a specific time of day, e.g., between 23:00 and 06:00? Is there a seasonal pattern related to bird presence or feeding habits? It is important to have an adequate monitoring and reporting system and to maintain a regular scheduled inspection program.
• What does the inspection show, i.e., is the outage typically involving the center phase? Are there instantaneous relay actions with successful reclosure? Are there flashed insulators or structures visible?
• Is there the presence of dead or injured birds or burnt feathers near the structure? Which parts of the bird are burnt? Is there the presence of burns in the cloaca? Is it a bird phase-to-phase body contact, phase-to-earth, or streamer fault?

When determining the appropriate mitigation actions, practitioners may use perch deterrents, insulator shields, and/or alternative perch sites to reduce the risk of bird electrocution due to streamers. Other options include reconfiguration, retrofitting with insulation, and retrofitting using perch management [46]. The following points need to be taken into consideration.

(i)

Tower Configuration

• Cross-arm dimensions (or its existence altogether) are essential [46], as they provide horizontal areas that are attractive to birds.
• Experience has revealed that faults occur on the outer phases where the landing plates are not fully protected, which leaves roosting space for birds. Care must be taken not to leave any roosting space at the outer phase extremes of towers [31].
• For new and modified lines, it is necessary to implement tower designs that do not encourage bird use. On strainer or tension tower designs, some risk has been noted due to streamers [53].

(ii)

Insulator

• The positioning of insulators to avoid bird streamers needs to be considered. Covers for the top and bottom insulator disks in an I-string must be large enough to prevent streamers from entering the approximate flashover area, i.e., the region that the conducting streamer must enter to produce flashover and the area around the phase conductor [13].
• However, the accumulation of bird excrement is not fully avoided. The concentration of excrement at the top and bottom units reduces the wet withstand voltage of the entire insulator string [45], thereby increasing the risk of electrocution due to streamers. Such strings therefore require periodic washing/cleaning in problem areas.
• Corrosion as a consequence of the excrement is also a problem [46].
• In addition, the different dimensions of the larger open-profile insulator in relation to standard insulators may cause incompatibility issues when compiling an insulator string [45].
• The large diameter of these shields may, however, decrease their ability to weather strong storms [23].
• For vertically suspended composite insulators, corona rings installed at the conductor end will increase the probability of bird streamer-caused flashover as it extends the electrical reach of the conductor [45].

(iii)

Perch Deterrents

• Perch management has been utilized successfully to reduce streamer flashover. Spikes, combs, and brush-type devices are installed on the critical areas of the cross-arms to limit the accessibility to birds. The dimensions of the comb (bird spikes) must be sufficient to ensure that large (long-legged) birds are unable to perch above the insulator strings [22]. Metal spikes can harm raptors and should not be used.
• Holding straps are recommended so that the perch diverters can be easily removed during live work and replaced afterwards [31].
• Caution is advised in the use of perch deterrents as some have been found to severely degrade due to the sun’s UV after a few years. Additionally, once a flashover has involved plastic perch deterrents, the charred surface will become conductive, presenting a risk of future flashover. These burned plastic devices should be removed from the structure and replaced [25].
• Recent investigations by [54] show that V-string configurations on horizontal cross-arms are most exposed to streamer faults since there is nothing obstructing free-falling bird streamers between the cross-arm and the phase conductor. Experience described in [31], however, indicates that I-strings are equally vulnerable and should also be protected with perch deterrents.
• It is also best to simply install perch deterrents in the critical areas of the tower [36,37], leaving other perch sites available.

5. Conclusions

Bird electrocutions due to streamers are extremely rare, with very little information available. When they do occur, it has been found that, on occasion, they may result in the injury or death of the bird. Bird perch deterrents are typically used in many utilities to reduce bird streamer faults. This may not always be fully effective. It is imperative that the perch deterrents (bird guards) are placed and installed correctly. Placement should be above potential problematic areas to prevent the bridging of the gaps, at various points on different tower structures and installed correctly and tightly to the tower so that the bird deterrents do not move. Moreover, these bird guards need to be monitored and maintained to ensure effectiveness over time. Involving a range of stakeholders (e.g., academic researchers, NGOs, utilities, municipalities) when making environmental management decisions, such as researching and implementing the best mitigation measures, is critical to ensure success [55]. An awareness of the challenge would therefore provide an important source of information to prioritize and inform future conservation efforts around power lines. Empirical studies to determine their effectiveness is lacking [1]. The shared goal among stakeholders is to reduce bird mortalities, either for conservation or economic reasons, and addressing a significant human–wildlife conflict by producing standardized protocols [3]. Despite streamer electrocution occurrence, in certain situations, some birds might derive some benefit from the presence of power lines in relation to increased nesting, roosting sites, and nursery areas, which may allow them to expand their range, especially if suitable mitigation measures can be taken to limit the risk of electrocution.