PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
North-Eastern Bulgaria is an important breeding and wintering ground on the migration route for birds flying between Europe and Africa along the Via Pontica flyway — the second most important migration route for European birds. Bulgaria also boasts more than twice the EU average of Natura 2000 protected zones, which cover nearly 35% of its territory.
About 500 000 storks and 110 000 raptors from Northern, Eastern and Central Europe migrate to and from Africa through the area, making bird mortality caused by energy infrastructure a truly international challenge. Significantly reducing the number of bird deaths is vital for both African and EU countries whose birds migrate through or winter in the project area. Among the species most at risk are highly endangered geese, swans, pelicans and raptors.
Bird strikes and electrocution can also result in network failures and power outages, with knock-on socio-economic disruptions, financial losses and additional CO2 emissions.
OBJECTIVES
LIFE Safe Sky Bulgaria will operate across 28 Natura 2000 Special Protected Areas (SPAs) in North-eastern Bulgaria, as well as the corridors that connect them. The project aims to prevent unnatural mortality among globally threatened bird species caused by collision with overhead power lines and electricity pylons. It will apply best practice and use the latest technologies to:
- protect 16 priority bird species, of which 14 are protected by EU legislation, 15 appear in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive and 10 are on the IUCN Red List
- prevent unnatural bird mortality by insulating 10 000 hazardous electricity pylons
- mark aerial conductors with 5 000 bird-diverters in 28 Natura 2000 sites and in the main migration corridors between SPAs
- establish systems for future monitoring of bird mortality along all power lines in north-eastern Bulgaria
- provide 100 safe nesting sites for 2 of the target species on hazardous electricity poles by installing nest boxes
RESULTS
The expected results of the project are:
- analysis of the existing overhead power lines within the Natura 2000 areas and the corridors between them
- identification of areas with the highest risk for wild birds
- publication of a specially designed field study on bird mortality identifying priority sections for reconstruction
- a detailed plan and technical specifications for the isolation of dangerous electric poles and the marking of overhead cable lines with diverters
- a system and database to monitor the number and location of network outages caused by birds
- assessment of conservation measures on priority bird species
- assessment of the impact of the project on ecosystem functions
- assessment of the socio-economic impact of project activities on the local economy and population
- effective, positive national and international media coverage of the project
- communications toolkit including media materials, a short video, a layman's report and advertising billboards
