A total of 5,018 artificial nesting sites for large raptors have been installed at Tam Giang Yuan National Park on the Qinghai Plateau since 2016.
Data recorded on December 19 shows that these artificial facilities have attracted 2,300 nesting birds, with the populations of golden eagles, alpine hawks, Saker falcons, and other raptor species significantly increasing.
Large raptors prefer to live at higher altitudes to hunt, and power poles have become their first choice. This not only poses a danger to wildlife but can also damage power transmission lines.
Raptors often choose nesting sites at higher locations such as power poles. (Photo: CNS)
To address this issue, the State Grid Corporation of China has decided to share power poles with raptors at Tam Giang Yuan National Park. They have constructed safe artificial nests on top of the poles and installed independent landing platforms for eagles. Additionally, the company is also implementing technical modifications to power poles in areas frequently traversed by large raptors to prevent electrocution.
Observational data shows that each artificial nest can reduce the population of Pika rabbits, a rodent species living in the grasslands surrounding the raptors’ habitat, by 52 during their breeding period.
Artificial nests can help control the pika population, thereby reducing damage to vegetation and grassland soils while maintaining ecological balance in the Tam Giang Yuan area.
Staff from the State Grid Corporation of China checking the status of an artificial nest at Tam Giang Yuan National Park. (Photo: CNS)
Located in the interior of the Tibetan Plateau, Tam Giang Yuan National Park is an important biodiversity hotspot in high-altitude regions worldwide. It is listed as one of the 25 most important areas for biodiversity conservation by the World Wildlife Fund.
Dubbed “the paradise of birds”, Tam Giang Yuan is currently home to over 300 rare bird species, including striped-headed geese and 20 species of large carnivorous birds such as golden eagles and hawks.
