Four rare falcons electrocuted

BY CLAIRE CONNELL AND RACHEL YOUNG

At least four rare falcons, bred as part of a conservation programme on the Wairau Plains, have been electrocuted in the past six months after colliding with live electrical transformers.

Marlborough Lines says it is not their problem because the birds' deaths don't cause any power outages. However, they are happy to install protective covers if land owners pay.

Falcons for Grapes programme manager Colin Wynn said that was merely a "cop-out".

Falcons are being released in the wild as part of the programme, run in conjunction with the Marlborough Falcon Conservation Trust.

The programme was launched in 2005 to increase falcon numbers on the Wairau Plains, and encourage the bird to control small birds in vineyards.

Falcons rest on the transformers on the top of power poles, but can be electrocuted when they hit the "live" parts, known as bushings.

Insulated transformer covers are an option, but Marlborough Lines said it was up to individuals to foot the $440 bill for the labour and covers.

Mr Wynn said he had urged Marlborough Lines for a year to put up covers progressively as they worked on power poles and on new transformers.

Among the falcons killed, was three-month-old Gem, the first falcon born in captivity in the South Island. Gem was found electrocuted on January 14, three weeks after she had been released into the wild.

Since last winter another three falcons had died from electrocution, he said.

As part of the programme, all falcons were fitted with a transmitter. If it stopped sending back information, chances were the falcon was dead.

Mr Wynn said in the past six months, another six falcons have "gone off the register" which meant there was a possibility they had been electrocuted as well.

He said this was upsetting.

But Marlborough Lines operations manager Brian Tapp said the company was not responsible for installing covers.

The company's role was to make sure the power supply was reliable and adequate, he said.

He said it was not practical to cover all the transformers with the cover, as there were over 700 transformers within a 15-kilometre radius of the Waihopai Bridge alone.

But Mr Wynn said "These are our iconic national symbol, so they [Marlborough Lines] probably do have an obligation to mitigate the danger their lines cause to wildlife."

Mr Tapp said the contracting sector of Marlborough Lines now attached a clause to new property owners' documents which included an option to purchase a transformer cover. It was much cheaper to cover them before they were erected on the property, he said.

"We are trying to do what we can, but we are not doing it for them. We are facilitating it to happen."

- The Marlborough Express