At an elevation of roughly 3,500 meters on the Zoige grasslands in Sichuan Province, a subtle yet significant shift is underway. Serving as a crucial “Water Tower” for the Yellow River basin, Zoige stands as the nation’s largest alpine peat wetland, supplying about 30 percent of the river’s upstream flow. Despite the expansive grassland’s lack of tall trees, electricity pylons have become attractive perching spots for birds of prey like saker falcons and upland buzzards.
This situation previously posed a challenge. Avian droppings fouled insulators, while debris such as twigs and grass gathered for nests triggered short circuits and outages. Prior to 2021, bird activity led to roughly 15 line interruptions annually in Zoige. Scaring the birds away proved ineffective in the long run. In 2022, State Grid Sichuan Electric Power initiated the “Life Nest” public welfare program. Collaborating with bird experts and forestry and grassland agencies, the group examined 12,000 kilometers of power lines and over 30,000 towers, charted avian patterns, pinpointed primary nesting zones, and implemented a strategy of “guidance paired with deterrence.”
Safe zones on the towers now feature artificial nests crafted from rust-resistant golden vines and fastened with insulated wiring. The newest 3.0 iteration measures one meter across and 30 centimeters deep, closely resembling a natural nest. Additionally, rotating mirrors were mounted on tower crossarms, and live electrical components were shielded to steer birds clear of hazardous areas.
The outcomes are promising. In the Zoige test region, 67 artificial nests and 178 spinning mirror units have been deployed, drawing over 200 birds. Protected species including saker falcons and upland buzzards have produced 58 eggs, all of which hatched successfully. The comeback of these raptors also triggers a beneficial ecological chain. Plateau pikas contribute to grassland deterioration, and raptors naturally prey on them. A single raptor family can consume 600 to 700 pikas during one breeding season, curbing rodent damage and preserving grassland equilibrium.
Two generations of stewards stand behind this effort. Kangzhoujia, a Tibetan staff member with State Grid’s Aba Power Supply Company, spent his youth on this land. As a child, he listened for black-necked crane calls to locate good pasture and water. Today, he tunes into the buzz of power lines to detect faults. “The grassland cannot grow tall trees,” he notes. “But once the towers were erected, the birds saw them as the highest perch and moved in.” Now, the “Snowland Eagle” women’s drone patrol team carries on this work. Five Tibetan women, born after 2000, employ drones and AI-adaptive inspection systems to watch over the nests. A task that once required four days of foot patrol now takes merely three hours.
The “Life Nest” initiative extends beyond this single area. It has established a repeatable framework—scientific tracking, man-made nesting sites, physical deterrents, and digital oversight—serving as a template for ecological management of high-altitude power grids. It has garnered over 10 innovation awards at national, provincial, and industry levels. As dusk falls, crane calls blend with the hum of electrical lines. The towers remain still, carrying both energy and vitality. The rhythm of progress can harmonize with nature.（Author: ZHOU TIRAN, MA MIN）
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME8KhAvWhzk
Zhou Tiyan
State Grid Sichuan Aba Prefecture Electric Power Co., Ltd.
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