Date: 03/20/18 Formatted: Justified

To: Katelyn Dotson, Wildlife Program CoordinatorChief Executive Officer; Duke Energy Power
Company
From: Joan Onuzuruike, Wildlife Program Assistant
Date: 03/20/18
Subject: Replacing Older Pole Power Poles with Avian-Friendly Pole Power Poles
Reference: Help prevent the number of eagles getting electrocuted
Action Required: Start production of new power poles by 06/20/2018.
Distribution List: Duke Energy Power CompaniesAmerican Foundation Organization

Many eagle species have beenhave been getting electrocuted by power lines for many years
without any solutions on how to prevent this from happening. One of the main reasons why eagles
are becoming endangered is because of their the high risk of getting electrocutdeath by
electrocution ed by power poles and power lines, that weren’t made for them. A new study,
conducted by researchers from EDM International, focuses on preventing bird electrocution
through the identification and correction of high-risk pylons (Wiley, 2018). To help prevent eagles
from getting being electrocuted, these researchers have developed new techniques to change the
power lines , so that eagles will not be harmed when they land and rest on power lines. Using this
technique on your power poles and power lines couldcan help save millions of eagles from getting
being electrocuted.

Summary
The main wildlife animal that’s affected the most by electrocution are bald eagles and raptors, but
those birds dying from electrocution is nothing new. In fact, it’s a major problem across the world,
mainly in areas that use high voltage power lines as their main source of electricity. The main
wildlife animal that gets affected the most by electrocution are animals from the Eagle species.
Eagles dying from electrocution is nothing new. In fact, it’s a major problem across the world,
mainly in areas that uses high voltage powerlines as their main source of electricity. These eagle
species can vary from different regions around the world, but we must first start by preventing
eagles from dying of electrocution in America. Therefore, I recommend that the American Eagle
Associationour organization help recommends that Duke Energy Power Company replace retrofit
their power poles with avian-friendly power poles and power lines. Using these new power -poles
could help save millions of eagles from getting being electrocuted.

Eagles Endangered by Power Poles

Electrocution wasn’t a major cause of death for eagles until humans started to invade their natural
habitats by tearing down the nesting grounds of eagles and building cities that use electricity. Most
of these eagles usually don’t have anywhere to go, so they stay in the same area that they’re used
to, even if it looks different to them. Living in any city that uses electricity can be dangerous for
many wildlife animals, especially eagles. We fail to realize just how dangerous living in these
cities are for them. Neighborhoods that have been around for many decades have infrastructure
that is slowly disintegrating, without anyone caring to maintain or check on the poorly maintained
buildingsDeath by electrocution wasn’t a major concern for wildlife eagles until humans started to
invade their natural habitats by tearing down eagles nesting grounds and building cities that use
electricity. Most of these eagles usually don’t have anywhere to go so they stay in the same place
that they’re used to even if it looks different to them. Living in any city is dangerous for all wildlife
eagles but we fail to realize just how dangerous living in cities are for wildlife. In neighborhoods
that have been around for a while have infrastructure that have been slowly disintegrating, without
anyone caring to maintain or check on the infrastructure. As you can see from the chartAccording
to the results of mortality rate, located on the next page, the number of eagles getting electrocuted,
diagnosed by Region from 2014 to 2018, is very highhigh in the Midwest and will continue to rise
if nothing is done to reduce the problem. After doing more research on which state had the highest
mortality rate, I found out Kansas had the highest mortality rate, out of all 50 states.

Results of Mortality Rate

Average Electrocuted Rate of Eagle

Diagnosed by Region, 2014-2018
6%
11%

How Are Eagles Electrocuted?

Perching and Nesting
If an eagle perches or nests, on top of power poles, then electrocution can occur. This happens
when a bird completes a circuit by simultaneously touching two energized parts or touches one
energized part and a grounded part of the electrical equipment on a power pole, specifically with
the span of an eagle’s wings (American Eagle Foundation, 2018). In other words, these birds are
most likely electrocuted because of the conducting wires being placed too close together.

Carrying Wet Prey

When a bird’s feathers, talons, or beak encounters power lines, then conduction can occur. The
outcome is even worste when the bird is wet or when the eagle is carrying wet prey., like fishes.

Collision
Another fear factorterrifying outcome for eagles are is when they sometimes collide with power lines because of them
having limited sight; , in which they are often electrocuted because of this. Bird size, agility, experience,
flocking, territorial activities, or courtship activities, weather, time of day, human activities,
configuration, and location of the power line, line placement, and line size can all contribute to these
collisions also (American Eagle Foundation, 2018).

Why Are Eagles Electrocuted?

The American Eagle Foundation statesAfter doing some research, I found that much of
electrocutions occur on medium-voltage distribution lines because of the spacing between
conductors that are often at times narrow enough to be bridged by a bird’s wingspan. In addition
to one to three conductors, these harmful power poles may also carry ground wires, transformers,
or grounded metal braces (Thomas, 2018). Because this can become very dangerous for many
eagles, major modifications need to be done to power poles, so that eagles can safely livelive safely
to see another day without without being electrocuted. Retrofitting older power poles and using
newer avian-friendly power poles will help reduce the number of eagles getting electrocuted.

Why Avian-Friendly Power Poles?

Using avian-friendly power poles will help prevent eagles from getting electrocuted by ensuring a
safe distance between the wires and the grounded parts on power poles. To prevent eagles from
getting electrocuted from pre-existing power poles, using a 10-foot cross-arm may allow 60-inch
separation between each conductor (American Eagle Foundation, 2018). But that is not always the
case. Some power poles may need to be replaced where more eagle fatalities have occurred. Even
though replacing the entire power pole can get costly, it’s a better option because minor
modifications will not help reduce the numbers of eagles electrocuted, if the power pole has other
possible dangerous conditions. This will also affect the safety of eagles. If anything was to happen
on our watch, then signing an avian-protection plan will further protect us.But that is not always
the case. Some power poles may need to be replaced where there are more eagle fatalities.
Replacing the older power poles will be a better option because having safe modifications will not
help with eagles getting electrocuted, especially if they are other possible dangerous conditions
occurring from those power poles. To help get you started, we encouraged Duke Power to sign an
avian-protection plan.

What is an Avian- Protection Plan?

An aAvian- pProtection pPlan (APP) is a utility-specific document that delineates a program
designed to reduce the operational and avian risks that result from avian interactions with electric
utility facilities (APLIC & USFWS, 2005). An avian-protection planPP will show your this
company organization how to take measures to reduce the mortality rate and how to enhance the
eagle population. This protection plan will help train your our company organization on standard
procedures and policies for all the right equipment needed, and proper installation on how to
construct these new power poles and power lines. The protection plan. APP will also protect your
our company organization when there is a situation that your wecompany cannot control. For
example, when an eagle is electrocuted, then APP this protection plan will help your uscompany
cover the cost and damage, while also . This APP will helping your company us transition into the
production of avian- friendly power poles easily.
How Much Will It Cost to Replace These Power Poles?
A typical cost to replace an average power pole would be approximately $2,500. The most cost-
effective approach to reducing power line -related mortality will likely be to implement bird-
friendly design strategies at new power lines whenever possible. Retrofitting of existing power
poles will cost anywhere between $500-$1000. Instead of building newer power poles, retrofitting
older power poles can help reduce the cost of material needed and the labor involved.

Conclusion
The American Eagle Foundation is about helping all eagles perch safely on top of powerlines that
are avian friendly. Research has proven the different ways to prevent eagles from being electrocuted, so that eagles
of different species can live up to their normal lifespan. I want our organization to continue helping
all eagles thrive in a healthy environment. This includes allowing them to perch safely on top of
powerpolesthatareavian-friendly.Electrocutionshouldbepreventedandcanbepreventedsothateaglesofdifferentspeciescanlivetotheirnormalifespan.Byretrofitingyourpowerpolestoimplementhesenewdesigns,
your wecompany will be saving millions of eagles from an untimely death.

Recommendation
Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC) recommends that we can retrofit power poles
by adding a minimum 60-inch horizontal separation between energized conductors and/or
energized conductors and grounded hardware (American Eagle Foundation, 2018). APLIC funds
research projects that further the knowledge of avian/power line interactions, including causes and
solutions to avian mortalities due to power line electrocutions and collisions.

TherecommendationsfromtheAvianPowerLineInteractionCommite(APLIC)istoprovidea60-inchminimumhorizontalseparationbetwenenergizedconductorsand/orenergizedconductorsandgroundedhardware(AmericanEagleFoundation,2018).AmericaneagleprotectionactalsorecommendsthatDukePowersignsanavianprotectionplan.Youcanfindtheirwebsitesiteherformoreinformationh:tp:/www.aplic.org/.
The Edison Electric Institute’s Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC), and U.S. Fish and Wildllife Service
(USFWS). Avian Protection Plan (APP) Guidelines. Apr. 2015, www.aplic.org/uploads/files/2634/APPguidelines_final-
draft_Aprl2005.pdf.

“Promote Avian-Friendly Power Lines.” American Eagle Foundation, www.eagles.org/take-action/avian-friendly-

power-lines/

Thomas, Nancy J. www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/field_manual/chapter_50.pdf.

Wiley. "Mitigation techniques fall short of preventing electrocution of golden eagles on power poles." ScienceDaily.
ScienceDaily, 24 January 2018. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180124085606.htm.