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30.12.1899
Electrocution of Storks
Dear Stork Friends
during the last week a session of NABU (Naturschutzbund/ Nature Protection Federation)was held in Muhr am See, Bavaria with the theme "Electrocutions of Birds". NABU's press release covering the results is attached. I have added of my own comments:
- Unfortunately is electrocution still the most common cause of death for white Storks.
- Our cooperation partner enviaM has mitigated the danger at many power poles. During a press interview on March 29th in Vetschau, the representative of enviaM explained that all dangerous middle voltage power poles will be secured. Fantastic!
With this goal, electrocutions will finally come to an end and the time limit set by the Federal Nature Protection Law will have been met.
Winfried Boehmer
NABU-Project Leader
NABU demands quick Action to secure dangerous Power Poles
The Death of innumerous Birds can be avoided
Almost unnoticed by the public, innumerous birds become victims at power poles on a daily basis. "Much needs to be done yet, to stop this hemorrhage," says the NABU Bird Protection Expert Markus Nipkow on the subject of "Electrocution of Birds" last weekend at the end of a joint congress of NABU and its Bavarian partner the State Federation for Bird Protection (LVB). The lack of enforcement regulations at the state level were especially criticized by Nipkow in connection with this.
Since April 2002, newly erected middle voltage power poles must be designed in such a way that birds cannot receive electric shocks. Existing power poles with high danger portential are to be suitably secured by 2012. After the nature protection associations have pointed to the dangers of certain construction types for years, and although the amendments to the Federal Nature Protection Law in April of 2002 a judicial breakthrough had been reached, Nipkow says, "The conversion by the energy suppliers is progressing at a snails pace." This is also true for the trolly lines of the German Railways System, which stayed outside of the legislation.
While securing the dangerous power poles, regional misdevelopments have also occurred. Of all things, the suggestions of the Federation of Network Operating Companies (VDN) for the protection of birds at open power lines contained many unsuitable measures. Therefore, concrete suggestions for improvements and dialog between bird protectors, network operating companies and technicians also stood at the centre of the conference.
The number of power poles dangerous to birds within Germany is estimated to stand at 100,000. "Indeed the mitigation ought to have begun at the most neuralgic points, however, the nature protection law does not allow for restrictions to individual regions." Nipkow stressed. Because of their physical size, storks and birds of prey are particularly endangered and can be found all over Germany as brood or migratory birds. After for years, the interim result shows that authorities, electric power suppliers and the railways assume more responsibilties than previously and that now the necessary bird protection measures should be speedily put in place.
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