Swans being killed by electric lines.

oldfart

Is it the responsibility of the ESB to put markers on lines where swans have repeated collisions, leading to death? Is it their duty, or a legal requirement for them to do this if I notify them of a place where this happens regularly or is it not up to anyone? should I contact them, and what if anything will be done about it? Will I be wasting my time, and will I have to look at more dead swans in the future...

Advice please, I cant find much about it in relation to Ireland on the internet.

Mothman

I don't know if there is an obligation, but it may be in their interests.

I have lost a swan (wild breeding in garden) to the power line that my power comes from. I saw her last flight and she never got enough height to clear the line.

The male also collided with same line and caused a power cut! He survived, but I witnessed numerous close shaves. Soon after the line was upgraded from single phase to 3 phase, and the wires increased from 2 to 3 and there has never been an issue since. The extra 3 wire in the middle is raised above other 2, and whether this makes them easier to see or whether the wires themselves are more visible to swans, I don't know.

Not answering your queries, but more supporting that it may be a widespread occurrence where lines are adjacent to water bodies.

Desmo

I do not wish to sound ghoulish or insensitive but if you do have a freshly killed swan on your land, they are fantastic to eat. I know this from friends who saw one die from a power line collision and who roasted it.

Des

Birdnuts

The worst example I've seen of a badly sited powerline is the one that cuts right through Pollardstown Fen NR. Why is hasn't been moved/removed is beyond me

dodderangler

More birds of prey are killed more than swans
I'd be bit more concerned of them than swans to be honest but that's my view as someone who flies bops

Half-cocked

Desmo wrote: »

I do not wish to sound ghoulish or insensitive but if you do have a freshly killed swan on your land, they are fantastic to eat. I know this from friends who saw one die from a power line collision and who roasted it.

Des

I also had my only taste of swan from a power line casualty, found it far too rich for my taste. Power lines do cause a few casualties but not impact on overall population. I suspect it would be far too expensive to 'bird proof' power lines when you look at the actual scale of the problem. There would be a case for taking measures in certain areas however. I remember the ESB buried power lines on the North Slob reserve years ago because of the number of bird collisions. Not sure if it was done for the birds or to cut the cost of constant repairs.