Bird diverters the answer to saving Elgin Pond’s birds
Lisha Van Nieuwenhove
Plans are afoot to ensure that what happened to two swans on Elgin Pond last year doesn’t happen to any other birds.
During a deputation to council on Monday, Uxbridge resident Nancy Melcher shared what actions she and others are taking to prevent swans and other water fowl from colliding with the wires that line the Main Street South bridge which spans the southeastern portion of the pond. In late September last year, NutMeg, a female swan who lived with her family on the pond, reportedly struck one of these overhead powerlines and died from the injuries she sustained. In mid-November, one of her cygnets also collided with one of the utilities lines, likely while it was learning to fly. The cygnet was rescued and taken to Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge, where she continues to rehabilitate (she is expected to be released in the spring).
Durable, effective bird diverters, such as the one shown here, are being considered for installation at Elgin Pond to stop water fowl from colliding with overhead wires.
Melcher said these injuries/fatalities could likely have been avoided if the lines were made more visible by bird diverters. Melcher passed one type of bird diverter around to council members while pointing out its features, such as being lightweight, securely fastening onto wires (even in high winds), sporting reflective yellow stripes and a glow-in-the-dark center strip, and being visible from both above and below.
“As a bird watcher, I love seeing the flocks of water fowl that pass through during migrations, as well as those who have chosen to make their home here,” said Melcher. “Swans are some of the largest water fowl. Needless to say, they’re not particularly manoeuverable!” Making the lines more visible was the best strategy for keeping water fowl safe.
Melcher also shared that Uxbridge resident Bob Kirvan has already obtained a commitment from Hydro One, which owns some of the lines along the pond, to installing diverters on their lines running across the southeastern part of the pond (where NutMeg collided with the wires). Melcher’s husband, Mark, has spoken with Bell Canada’s Corporate Responsibility and Environmental Department about allowing diverters on a telecommunications cable on the east side of the road, and they, in turn, are also speaking with Hydro One.
She then inquired who owned a wire on the west side of Main Street (the line that injured the cygnet), saying it was the greatest threat to cygnets learning to fly. Chief Administrative Officer Kristi Honey replied that the township owns the line, and said Melcher’s previous request to install bird diverters on lines alongside the pond had not been forgotten.
“We have been actively working with Hydro One, Elexicon and Bell, but haven’t had any results yet.” She also said quotes are currently being obtained so that a report can come to council on what bird diverters on that particular line would cost.
The Township of Uxbridge is a certified Bird-Friendly Community and is currently taking steps to protect birds from collisions with windows at Town Hall.