'Blue Guardian' builds a safety barrier for migratory birds

On April 22, Earth Day, as morning mist still lingered over Sanggouwan Wetland Park in Rongcheng, Shandong, a team of volunteers from State Grid Weihai Power Supply Company, dressed in green uniforms, had already begun their bird protection patrol along the coastline. Taking advantage of the brief lull after the northward migration of whooper swans, they cleared debris from the tidal flats and improved habitats for the summer migratory birds soon to arrive.

Power transmission lines run alongside the wetlands, equipped with bird-diversion devices and intelligent monitoring systems. Together, they quietly safeguard this avian habitat, enabling a harmonious coexistence between power infrastructure and wildlife. This is part of the daily routine of the "Blue Guardian" initiative, whose protection scope has expanded from wintering swans to a wider range of rare species, including black-tailed gulls that stop over and breed here.

Rongcheng is one of Asia's largest wintering grounds for whooper swans. Each year, from late October to late March, nearly 10,000 swans migrate from Siberia to spend the winter among its lagoons and wetlands. From the moment they arrive, protection efforts remain in place around the clock. Even after the last flock departs northward, patrols and monitoring continue without interruption, with the focus shifting seamlessly to resident and summer migratory birds, ensuring year-round protection.

To balance grid development with ecological conservation, State Grid Weihai Power Supply Company incorporated wildlife protection considerations from the earliest planning stages. Field surveys of the swan reserve and surrounding wetlands revealed overlaps between transmission routes and bird activity areas. To address this, the company worked with design institutes to conduct repeated site assessments, optimize infrastructure layouts, and consult experts for specialized evaluations. Key facilities were adjusted to avoid major migration corridors and core habitats, while safety distances were optimized, protection standards upgraded, and additional safeguards installed—ensuring both grid security and sufficient ecological buffer zones.

In recent years, supported by drone inspections and real-time monitoring systems, 24-hour surveillance has been implemented across bird-intensive areas such as coastlines, wetlands, and islands. Patrol teams track bird movements on-screen while conducting on-site inspections to identify potential risks, following a proactive approach of early detection, early response, and early prevention. To date, more than 860 potential hazards involving swans have been addressed.

Around the protected areas, power service stations have also been established, meeting local electricity needs while promoting bird conservation awareness. Rooftop photovoltaic systems and energy storage facilities provide clean power, while electric heating upgrades for over 20,000 households reduce annual pollutant emissions by 200,000 tonnes, contributing to a cleaner habitat for wildlife.

Meanwhile, the "Rainbow Classroom" initiative has delivered over 60 public outreach sessions, bringing bird protection education into 10 primary schools. Four volunteer teams regularly carry out coastal clean-up efforts, and more than 14,000 informational brochures have been distributed to residents and visitors.

As the "Blue Guardian" initiative continues to evolve, its focus has expanded from protecting wintering swans to safeguarding rare bird species across the entire Rongcheng region, with conservation efforts extending year-round. The ecological barrier built by power workers, combined with growing public awareness, has created a vibrant coastal wetland ecosystem where power infrastructure and bird habitats coexist in harmony, and flocks of birds gather freely.

From protecting wintering swans to safeguarding diverse bird species year-round, State Grid Weihai Power Supply Company has integrated power services into every stage of ecological conservation through the "Blue Guardian" initiative—dedicated to preserving this vital sanctuary for migratory birds.