What is an Avian Protection Plan?

An Avian Protection Plan, or APP, is a voluntary, utility-specific program to reduce the operational and avian risks that result from avian interactions with electric utility facilities.  Although each utility’s APP will be different, the overall goal of reducing avian mortality is the same.  APPs are “living documents” that are continually evaluated and refined over time.  APP Guidelines were jointly released by APLIC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2005.  These Guidelines offer resources for developing an APP.

  

 A Tribute to Dick Thorsell

April 11, 1927 – April 15, 2012

Photo courtesy of Echo Films, Boise,, ID

Dick Thorsell had a lifetime devotion to birds and was one of the founders of APLIC.  He brought electric utilities, government agencies, and environmental groups together to work in cooperation to mitigate bird deaths from power line collisions and electrocutions.  Contributions in memory of Dick can be made to the Peregrine Fund of Boise, Idaho: https://my.peregrinefund.org/donate .  A book on Dick’s life, “400 Million Years of a Rolling Stone:  The Quest of a Conservationist in the 20th Century” is available from Bobby Ward, (biblio@nc.rr.com, www.bobbyjward.com)

Upcoming Events and Workshops

APLIC hosts short courses on avian/power line interactions twice annually throughout the U.S.  Short courses include presentations regarding: regulations and permits; electrical systems; causes and prevention of bird electrocutions and collisions; nest management and protection; and Avian Protection Plans.

APLIC Membership

APLIC members include over 30 electric utilities in the United States and Canada as well as the Edison Electric Institute, National Rural Electrical Cooperative Association, Rural Utilities Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.