T&D World Features our collaboration demo day with Fulcrum Air and SSEN Transmission with A MOre More Friendly Sky report – read the whole story here!
Diverting Birds Safely
Another way to keep birds and T&D equipment safe from one another is to provide a visual warning that allows a bird to alter its flight path and avoid danger. Birds often find power lines an attractive place to perch or an obstacle to their flight paths. Keeping birds and power lines separate is in everyone’s best interest. Bird flight diverters are simple devices that can give birds a visual cue to avoid power lines by making the lines more visually conspicuous.
In a search for the highest contrasting diverter, SSEN Transmission found Colorado-based Power Line Sentry, a wildlife mitigation firm, who worked with bird ophthalmologists to develop today’s Hawk Eye BFD. This diverter is unique among marker options with its high visibility features. The Hawk Eye has an A-frame tent shape, contrasting prismatic colors and 24-hour rated glow in the dark bands, it offers a movement effect without mechanical components or line slippage, it provides low wind and ice loads, and is rated for systems up to 345kV with no corona, and it can be safely installed with the FulcrumAir LineFly robot. All vital characteristics for diverting birds away from powerlines, and for a safe and efficient installation.