Artificial nests protect birds, power grids of plateau

Artificial nests installed on power towers in Qinghai province are helping protect plateau birds while reducing risks to power grid operations in the Three-River-Source National Park, one of China's key ecological security barriers.

The "Nest of Life" project, launched by the State Grid Qinghai Electric Power Company, provides safer nesting sites for birds that frequently use power towers as high perches on the treeless grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Known as China's "water tower", the Three-River-Source region is home to more than 80 rare and protected bird species, including 23 nationally protected raptor species. As power grids expanded across the region from 2011 to 2016, transmission towers became part of the plateau landscape and naturally attracted birds in areas with few tall trees.

"On the grassland, power towers are often the highest points," said Bao Shoujun, an operation and maintenance specialist with the company. "Large raptors such as golden eagles, upland buzzards and steppe eagles prefer to nest or rest there because they can better observe prey on the ground."

However, nests built too close to power lines pose risks to both birds and the grid. Birds' wings or nesting materials can come into contact with conductors, causing short circuits, power outages or electrocution, Bao said.

To address the problem, the company shifted from deterring birds with sound and light devices to guiding them to safer nesting locations on the towers.

State Grid Qinghai began testing the artificial nest model in 2016 by installing nests on 20 towers. Observations showed that birds continued their normal activities while spending less time in hazardous parts of the towers. No bird-related electrical trips occurred on the pilot section.

Following the successful trial, the project was expanded and refined. Different nest designs were developed to suit regional conditions and bird species. Larger vine nests, which better withstand strong winds and blowing sand, were designed for bigger birds, while smaller bamboo-basket nests, better suited to cold conditions, were installed on power lines in the Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture.

The nests are installed on transmission and distribution towers where birds are most likely to perch or breed. They are built with corrosion-resistant galvanized metal frames and bamboo baskets treated against decay, allowing birds either to move in directly or add their own nesting materials.

"We prepared a safer and more stable home for them on the plateau," Bao said.

The design also reduces the risk of electrocution. The nests are typically mounted on tower crossarms and raised 40 to 60 centimeters with galvanized angle iron, keeping them a safer distance from conductors. In some areas, bare wires have also been replaced with insulated conductors to further protect both birds and power lines.

Bao said bird-related outages and electrocution incidents have fallen sharply since the nests were introduced and are now rare in the area.

Monitoring and maintenance have become part of routine line patrols. Regular inspections are carried out about once a month, with additional patrols during key power supply periods and the bird breeding season.

Every April and May, when many birds enter their peak breeding season, workers inspect nest stability, check bamboo linings for damage and carry out repairs when needed. Patrols are conducted mainly by workers using binoculars, while drones are increasingly employed. Local herders also help record bird activity.

In 2022, a plateau observation station was established in Jiatang grassland to monitor bird habitats and evaluate the project over the long term. High-definition cameras were later installed near the station, Longbao National Nature Reserve and Jiatang Grassland to record nesting, breeding, feeding and migration.

The project has continued to expand. So far, 6,053 artificial nests have been installed across Qinghai, including in major bird habitats such as the Longbao National Nature Reserve and Jiatang Grassland in Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture. The company has also installed 16 eagle perches in the national park.

Since 2016, State Grid Qinghai has invested nearly 14.79 million yuan ($2.18 million), excluding line construction and renovation costs. Observation data shows that birds have built more than 3,100 nests in the artificial structures, with over 2,500 successfully producing chicks.

In October 2024, the project was showcased at COP16 of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and selected as a practice case on energy transition and biodiversity protection.

Bao said the project has transformed power line protection from simply deterring birds to providing long-term care for them, offering a practical model for balancing infrastructure development with biodiversity conservation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.