Manitoba Hydro is preparing to install reflective markers on high-voltage power lines near Selkirk, Manitoba, to prevent birds from hitting the wires. The utility company recently released a 2024 monitoring report and a 2023 project update that identify specific areas where bird collisions happen most often along the Manitoba-Minnesota Transmission Project.
These reflective markers, known as bird diverters, are designed to make the wires more visible and can reduce collisions by 50% to 90%. To complete the work safely, the company plans to use drones to attach the devices to live power lines, a method that was previously tested near the Delta Marsh.
The project focuses on sections of the power line near the Red River and the Riel Converter Station, which are busy paths for migrating birds. This work is being done to meet the environmental requirements set by Manitoba Environment and Climate Change as part of the operating licence for the transmission project.
Residents in the area may see drones and work crews near the transmission lines in the coming months as the new safety markers are installed. Local conservation groups and residents have been watching the project closely to see how effectively these changes protect the birds that move through the region.
