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Swan electrocution (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter JPAC
- Start date
Ppedro
Well-known member
If as the warden says this happens often the company that is responsible for the power lines, if approached, would probably put some things called flight divertors on the power lines which give birds more of a chance of seeing and avoiding them.
Besides being good for the birds it also helps with the security of their network as swans and other large birds such as geese are well capable of flying into the wires, clashing them together and bringing them down.
jamesevry
Well-known member
I have seen this happen once before on the somerset levels, with a swan flying into a bunch of wires that were tagged very obviously with red markers, so even these aren't always succesful at deterring the birds. Have to say it was quite an awful experience with a loud buzzing sound of electricity as it hit the wires and the thud as it landed...
Richard Klim
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I posted this on Somerset Birds in Nov 2007:
Richard :-C
Richard :-C
JPAC
Well-known member
I think he meant nationwide not especially locally. However, I went to have a look where it had happened and another swan nearly did the same thing but just managed to clear the wires. They used to put corks on telephone lines so the birds could see them more easily. Nearly all the overhead power lines have been put underground there, apart from this small section which feeds a hotel.
I did hear the 'crack' from a nearby hide when the swan hit the lines, I thought it sounded strange but nobody at the time knew what it was. It has upset a lot of people there.
I did hear the 'crack' from a nearby hide when the swan hit the lines, I thought it sounded strange but nobody at the time knew what it was. It has upset a lot of people there.
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