Imagine soaring above the stunning landscapes of Northwest China's Sanjiangyuan 🏔️, where eagles and buzzards ride the winds over rivers and grasslands. But there's a twist—these majestic birds are nesting not in trees, but on power transmission towers! ⚡️
The Sanjiangyuan nature reserve, known as China's \"water tower,\" is home to over 300 rare bird species, including the upland buzzard, a top predator in the grassland ecosystem. These birds love high perches for hunting, and the tall power towers are perfect spots. However, their nests and droppings were causing power outages, accounting for up to 30% of circuit tripping incidents. 🚨
At first, the local power company tried to keep the birds away with repellents, but our feathered friends weren't easily fooled. 🦅 They adapted quickly, and the problem persisted. Then came a bright idea: why not make the birds feel at home—just not on the dangerous parts? 💡
Working with local herders and experts, the power company started building cozy artificial nests designed just for the upland buzzards. They learned from their early mistakes (roofs on nests? Not necessary!) and soon found the perfect design. They installed the first batch of 200 nests on the towers, and guess what? The birds loved them! 🎉
Not only did the birds have safe new homes, but the power lines were safer too. The number of power outages caused by bird activity dropped by nearly 30%. It's a win-win situation—a perfect example of harmony between nature and technology. 🌍🤝⚡️
\"It was incredibly exciting for us to see new life hatched,\" said Xu, a former maintenance worker. Seeing the baby birds in the artificial nests was a moment of joy for everyone involved. 🐣❤️
This innovative approach shows how humans and wildlife can coexist peacefully. So next time you're in Sanjiangyuan, look up—you might just see a buzzard in its sky-high home! 🏠🦅
Reference(s):
Artificial nests protect birds, power grids in NW China's Sanjiangyuan
cgtn.com
