XINING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The State Grid Qinghai Electric Power Company has installed more than 6,000 artificial bird nests in the Sanjiangyuan area, northwest China's Qinghai Province, to boost biodiversity conservation.
The Sanjiangyuan area, known as China's "water tower," is home to the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers, and boasts among the highest levels of high-altitude biodiversity in the world.
This area is now home to approximately 300 species of birds, including over 20 raptors.
In 2016, the company launched a project to build nests for birds on electricity transmission poles and towers in the Sanjiangyuan area. The project integrates the concept of ecological protection into the construction of the power grid, creating a mutually beneficial solution that not only provides safe, comfortable and stable homes for birds but also ensures the uninterrupted transmission of electricity.
From material selection and spatial layout to windproof reinforcement, these artificial nests are tailored to the roosting needs of birds. Currently, the company has successfully attracted birds to nest in more than 3,100 of the 6,053 artificial nests installed.
Meanwhile, the company has partnered with researchers and conservation groups on interdisciplinary research bridging ornithology and power systems. High-definition cameras mounted on poles and towers near the artificial nests enable real-time monitoring, collection and analysis of bird activity data, supporting dynamic evaluation of the artificial nest project.
Statistics show that over the last decade, bird populations in the Sanjiangyuan area have steadily grown, reflecting the tangible results of biodiversity conservation. By attracting raptors, including those that hunt pikas, to nest in these artificial structures, the project has helped curb rodent outbreaks, safeguard alpine meadows, and shore up vulnerable links in the local ecosystem. ■
