Electricity Today T&D Magazine

Birds have been a problem for electrical substations since the first power distribution systems were built. The elevated components of substations create ideal perches and overhangs for birds to nest and find safety. Critical electrical substation design principles now include deterrent elements for avian safety.

Unfortunately, by choosing substations as their home, birds risk injury and death, and cause equipment damage and significant expense in several ways:

• Bridging: Wingtip contact, or "bridging," involves the accidental contact by a bird’s wings between electrical components, leading to a short circuit, electrocution of the bird, and damage to the equipment. Outages that result from bridging can run the gamut of size and expense—from as small as $500, to as large as $150,000.
• Droppings: The accumulation of bird feces on substation equipment can be corrosive to building materials and equipment. In certain conditions, feces can be conductive and cause system outages from “flashovers.” Droppings...