Seward, Alaska
According to the Alaska Sealife Center, a
second young swan died yesterday after colliding with the power lines bordering
the Lagoon.
Upon examination, neither swan showed
evidence of electrocution, which would require touching two wires simultaneously.
However, the collision caused them to lose their balance and fall, resulting in
broken necks and internal trauma.
Swans not only need a lot of room to maneuver,
but low light conditions may make the lines hard to see. One after the other, the
young swans did not see the wires in time to avoid them.
Trumpeter Swans are protected under the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Utilities can be prosecuted and fined for causing
deaths. All birds that die due to power lines must be documented and reported
to US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Aerial marker spheres, spirals, and suspended
devices that swing, flap, and flash can be added to the power lines to make
them more visible. There are official bird deflectors, but it seems to me
that the long, colorful flashers used for fishing attached with a
swivel would help.
If you would like to help prevent any more
tragedies, please contact the City Manager and Seward Electric Department and
ask them to install markers on these power lines ASAP, before any more swans
die.
City Manager Jim Hunt,
224-4047, jhunt@cityofseward.net
Electric Department Utility Manager John Foutz
224-0471, jfoutz@cityofseward.net
Electric Department Operations Supervisor Jeff
Estes
224-0472, jestes@cityofseward.net
Carol Griswold
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