With the need to discuss the latest development of the project progress, best practices, and experiences within birds vs power line topics with a wider audience, the Facebook group Birds and power lines has been established. The purpose of the group is to exchange knowledge and best or new (innovative) practices on the issue of birds and power lines within the community of experts from different countries/areas of the world. The group has for now over 40 representatives of energy companies, nature conservation authorities, environmental authorities, and ministries, who are actively involved in the issue. We believe their experiences and expertise is a great base for group development.

We are very honoured to announce that two renowned experts Mr. Richard Harness and Dr. James F. Dwyer with decades of experience have accepted the invitation and will be actively involved in the management of the group. Click on the Read More button and learn more about their background and achievements.

Mr. Richard Harness is a Certified Wildlife Biologist. Prior to working at EDM he worked for over a decade designing distribution and transmission power lines at General Engineers and Electrical Systems Consultants. He holds a M.S. in Fishery and Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University where his thesis work was conducted on raptor electrocutions where he looked at the problem from an engineering configuration viewpoint. His specific areas of strength are in wildlife-utility interactions including power line bird collisions and electrocutions. Mr. Harness has 30 years of experience in working on avian power line issues both nationally and internationally, working with a variety of utility companies, from small rural electric utilities to large investor-owned utilities spanning multiple states. He has developed over 100 Avian Protection Plans (APPs) and Avian Risk Assessments and has authored or co-authored 106 papers on the topic. He was a contributing author to APLIC’s Suggested Practices for Raptor Protection on Power Lines: The State of the Art in 2006 developing the section on Steel and Concrete Poles. He is an active member of the Raptor Research Foundation and The Wildlife Society.

Dr. James F. Dwyer is a Certified Wildlife Biologist, an FAA-certificated commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) pilot, and an environmental scientist at EDM International, Inc. He holds a Ph.D. in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and has over 20 years of experience using decision-relevant science and wildlife research to facilitate environmentally responsible electric utility and oil & gas operations. Dr. Dwyer specializes in UAS operations, Avian Risk Assessments, Avian Protection Plans, raptor banding, and related research throughout North America, and in the Caribbean, South America, and Europe. He coordinates his research with the utility industry, State and Federal Agencies, academic institutions, and the public, and regularly serves as an intermediary between various stakeholders. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, served as an Editor, Associate Editor, or peer-reviewer for over 100 more, and presents work regularly to clients and at professional scientific conferences. Dr. Dwyer also contributes to the next generation by teaching ornithology at his local community college.

We look forward to our cooperation and fruitful discussions!