Avian Protection Program
Sanctioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Avian Protection Program helps keep migratory birds safe from electrical equipment, including transmission lines and distribution substations. In addition to taking steps to reduce mortality risk to avian species, the program also encourages ways to enhance avian populations or habitats, such as developing safe nesting platforms. Southern Company follows transmission standards that are avian safe, especially on smaller lines where conductors are closer together and insulator strings are shorter.
Avian species sometimes nest atop power poles.
The electric utility industry and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have worked together to reduce avian mortality.