On 25 August travellers on the Bushmansnek Road outside Underberg were witness to an incident seldom seen but one that is played out all too frequently. In the early morning a Grey Crowned Crane collided with a Telkom line. Whilst Grey Crowned Cranes, Wattled Cranes and Blue Cranes face numerous threats to their existence, studies conducted by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), highlight power lines and other overhead cables as a major threat.

Research suggests that the primary cause of mortality amongst Blue Cranes can be attributed to collisions with overhead lines. Of course Cranes are not the only species affected, as all large terrestrial birds including Bustards, Storks and Secretary birds are prone to collisions with overhead lines. This is due largely to their limited manoeuvrability in flight and their limited frontal vision Birds such as cranes have a field of vision which differs from humans and other mammals. Not only is their frontal vision limited but it is mostly orientated downward scanning the ground below them. Obviously conditions that limit visibility also play a contributory role.

EWT have been working to identify areas that are prone to collisions and have endeavoured to fit these lines with markers to make them more visible. Where new lines are to be placed, EWT and conservation authorities provide input into the placement and design of lines in order to minimise the potential long term impacts of inappropriate placement.

Many people believe that birds are electrocuted when a collision occurs, most of the time it is actually just the sheer physical force of collision by birds that are in flight which results in death. Hopefully in the future power utilities and communication providers will ensure that overhead lines are placed away from the main flight paths of large birds that are prone to collisions. Currently a list of known collision sites for the district is being generated by the EWT. We would like to encourage anybody with specific information about collisions to contact us. In addition, EWT would also like to thank community members who reported the incident on 25 August.

Please contact Cobus Theron 079 508 2156 / 033 7011323 or cobust@ewt.org.za