13
© 2016 Journal compilation
http://mjbs.num.edu.mn
http://biotaxa.org./mjbs
Volume 14(1-2), 2016
Mongolian Journal of Biological
Sciences
ISSN 1684-3908 (print edition)
ISSN 2225-4994 (online edition)
MJBS
Original Arcle
http://dx.doi.org/10.22353/mjbs.2016.14.02
Key words: Bird
flight diverter, Gobi,
malfunction, mitigation,
powerline
Article information:
Received: 26 Feb. 2016
Accepted: 04 Nov. 2016
Published online:
14 Nov. 2016
Correspondence:
dashnyamb@ot.mn
Cite this paper as:
Malfunction Rates of Bird Flight Diverters on
Powerlines in the Mongolian Gobi
Batsuuri Dashnyam
1
*, Tsolmonjav Purevsuren
1
, Saruul Amarsaikhan
1
, Dandarmaa
Bataa
1
, Bayarbaatar Buuveibaatar
2
and Guy Dutson
3,4
1
Health, Safety and Environment Department, Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Chingis Avenue 15,
Ulaanbaatar 14240, Mongolia
2
Mongolia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
3
The Biodiversity Consultancy, 3E King’s Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1SJ, United Kingdom
4
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Vic 3216, Australia
Abstract
The Oyu Tolgoi (OT) project, one of the world’s largest copper and gold mines, is
located in Gobi Desert of Mongolia. To help meet its target of Net Positive Impact
on key biodiversity features such as the Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata)
the OT installed bird flight diverters (BFDs include spiral and flapper devices) to
its power transmission lines to reduce the risk of birds hitting the wires. Despite
the many studies demonstrating that BFDs reduce collision rates, we could find
no published information on malfunction rates of BFDs. In January 2013, we
surveyed the physical function of 1,200 BFDs (e.g. 600 flappers and 600 spirals)
in three sample areas on each of four lines of varying voltage and structure. Of the
600 flappers examined, 123 had malfunctioned within nine months of installation,
while the malfunction rate of the 600 spirals studied was zero. Using a Generalized
Linear Mixed Model, we found that the rate of flapper malfunction increased with
decreasing flapper size and power line diameter. Further, the flapper malfunction
rate increased as the distance between poles increased. The cost of replacing
malfunctioning BFDs is very high as there are serious health and safety constraints
related to working with live wires. Factors affecting diverter malfunctioning need
to be considered for future powerline projects and our information can serve as
basis for developing national standards or regulations for powerline mitigation in
Mongolia.
Dashnyam, B., Purevsuren, Ts., Amarsaikhan, S., Bataa, D., Buuveibaatar, B. &
Dutson, G. 2016. Malfunction rates of bird flight diverters on powerlines in the
Mongolian Gobi. Mong. J. Biol. Sci., 14(1-2): 13-20.
Introduction
The Oyu Tolgoi (OT) project, one of the
world’s largest copper and gold mines, is located
in Khanbogd soum in Umnugobi province of
Mongolia. In 2012, OT constructed a 96 km
220 kV power transmission line between the OT
mine site and the Gashuun Sukhait (GS) check
point at the Mongolia-China border. OT has
also constructed a 35.5 km 35 kV transmission
line from the mine site to Khanbogd town, a 68
km 35 kV line to the borefield at Gunii Hooloi
(GH), shorter 35 kV lines within the mine site
(LA), and 6.3 kV distribution lines to individual
production bores (PB) (Figure 1).
OT has a specific aim to achieve a Net
Positive Impact on key biodiversity features
in the Southern Gobi region, notably the