[Weekly Early Read] Ultra-High-Voltage Power Lines Threaten the Safety of the White Crane—What Can Be Done? (AI Translation)

【周刊提前读】特高压输电线威胁白鹤安全 如何补救？

On a foggy morning in February 2024, Zhou Haixiang, a retired professor from Shenyang Ligong University and a renowned wild bird photographer, discovered the corpse of a critically endangered Siberian crane (white crane) in a rice field near Poyang Lake, Jiangxi. The bird had suffered fatal injuries, apparently due to a severed wing, with bloodstains nearby. Inspection revealed the proximity of the Wuhan–Nanchang 1000kV ultrahigh-voltage (UHV) transmission line, suggesting the crane's death was due to collision with the craftily high, thin grounding wires, which are particularly invisible in foggy conditions. Similar incidents have occurred since the UHV line began operation in late 2023, with more tracked cranes dying or disappearing near the power line [para. 1][para. 2][para. 3].

Poyang Lake is an internationally significant wetland, being the main wintering site for over 98% of the global Siberian crane population—over 6,000 individuals in 2024—and a critical congregation point for other endangered birds like oriental storks and hooded cranes. The construction of the UHV power line, which spans about 70 km near the lake as part of a larger 450 km infrastructure project, has raised alarm among conservationists. The line’s route was chosen after environmental impact assessments (EIA) and government approvals, but NGOs have challenged these procedures, citing threats to migratory birds and questioning whether the EIAs fairly considered key ecological factors [para. 3][para. 4][para. 5][para. 6][para. 7][para. 8][para. 9][para. 10][para. 11].

A major controversy lies in the adequacy of the EIA. While the EIA addressed impacts on specific protected areas and considered certain bird species, it failed to highlight the presence of critically endangered cranes and the importance of nearby rice fields (farmlands not legally protected as reserves) as foraging grounds. These areas are essential daily habitats for the cranes, crucially linking their feeding and roosting sites and forcing them to traverse the power lines at low altitudes—a risk accentuated during poor visibility [para. 12][para. 13][para. 14][para. 15][para. 16][para. 17][para. 18][para. 19].

The legal case brought by an environmental institute against the State Grid and the engineering firm seeks accountability for ecological damages and demands effective risk mitigation measures. Evidence presented includes GPS-tracked death cases of cranes near the UHV line, reinforcing the point that design oversights have turned power lines into lethal obstacles for migratory flocks. The defendants, however, argue that bird strikes are isolated incidents, mainly due to adverse weather, and not quantifiable evidence of ecological harm [para. 20][para. 21][para. 22][para. 23][para. 24][para. 25][para. 26][para. 27].

Empirical data from similar studies suggest that power lines are a significant mortality factor for cranes—previous research in other regions revealed collision mortality rates ranging from 5% to over 40% for different crane species, especially where lines cut across agricultural valleys adjacent to wetlands [para. 27][para. 28][para. 29]. The UHV line at Poyang, with its extensive length and crane winter occupancy lasting five months, constitutes an even greater risk [para. 29][para. 30][para. 31].

To mitigate the risk, emergency measures have been implemented, such as installing colored bird diverters and aviation balls on the wires. Preliminary studies indicate that these measures reduce collision risks in good weather, but their effectiveness drops during frequent local fog. Experts recommend more comprehensive approaches, including route adjustments, advanced warning devices, and possibly even underground burial of lines in sensitive areas—though technical challenges and costs for UHV lines are significantly higher than for standard lines [para. 32][para. 33][para. 34][para. 35][para. 36][para. 37][para. 38][para. 39].

As electrification and grid expansion intensify with China’s energy transition, conflicts between infrastructure and wildlife conservation are increasing. Experts agree that only through rigorous, science-based assessments and genuine stakeholder cooperation can a sustainable balance between development and biodiversity protection be achieved; early consideration is vital to avoid avoidable, lasting ecological harm [para. 40][para. 41][para. 42][para. 43][para. 44].