State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company: Safeguarding Migratory Birds, Building Ecological Harmony

As the 2025 International Day of Birds approaches, State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company conducted a special bird conservation initiative from March 18 to 26, systematically inspecting power transmission facilities around Qinhu National Wetland Park to ensure migratory bird safety and grid reliability.

On March 19, at Jiangyan Qinhu National Wetland Park in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province (China’s second-batch and Jiangsu’s first national wetland park), technicians conducted maintenance checks on bird protection devices—including bird guards, flight diverters, and insulated covers—installed on power lines. This ecological sanctuary hosts multiple endangered bird species, making the balance between biodiversity conservation and power infrastructure management a regional priority.

To achieve coexistence between power systems and wildlife, the company integrates cross-sector resources, focusing on grid planning, clean energy adoption, and nest relocation strategies. During grid planning, transmission line routes and transformer locations are optimized to avoid core wetland zones, aligning with biodiversity protection standards. Collaborating with environmental authorities, it developed “Avian Habitat Hubs”: artificial nesting platforms installed on non-operational sections of transmission towers or in designated “ecological zones” mimicking natural habitats, guiding birds to nest safely. To date, 1,000 such platforms have been deployed at Qinhu Wetland, redirecting 430 nests away from hazardous areas and eradicating nest-building on active power equipment.

Concurrently, clean energy transition projects in Qintang Ancient Town now operate 23 electric tour boats and 42 fully electrified homestays, achieving an annual energy substitution of 5.42 million kWh—equivalent to reducing carbon emissions by 4,335 metric tons. Professional assessments confirm that transportation electrification alone cuts 30.6 metric tons of CO₂ annually, advancing sustainable tourism while preserving wetland ecosystems.

Monitoring data reveals a steady growth in Qinhu’s rare bird populations and a 67% decline in bird-related power line faults since 2022. This shift from reactive measures to proactive ecological stewardship exemplifies a replicable model for harmonizing industrial development with nature conservation. (By Yang Yi and Li Yang)