Swan hitting power lines .

[upwind]

I was walking back to my car after duck hunting a field and watched a flock of swan flying low over the field heading towards a    different field when all of sudden i see three swan hit the power line . It was right next to my car . I was thinking great that looks real good three swan standing in the road right next  to my car . But by the time i got to my car thankfully they were able to fly  off. Has anyone else ever seen this happen ?

[Axle]

In the summer, birds and squirrels will sometimes hit the juice and then cause forest or field fires.

[Ned]

In the summer, birds and squirrels will sometimes hit the juice and then cause forest or field fires.

This post sound like you have already hit the juice..............Happy new year.

[xdog]

I was walking back to my car after duck hunting a field and watched a flock of swan flying low over the field heading towards a    different field when all of sudden i see three swan hit the power line . It was right next to my car . I was thinking great that looks real good three swan standing in the road right next  to my car . But by the time i got to my car thankfully they were able to fly  off. Has anyone else ever seen this happen ?

I sure it happens quite a bit, have I ever seen it no, I would say your lucky to have seen such a accident.  In the Skagit Valley many of the power lines in high waterfowl traffic areas have bright, shiny little spinners that spin in the wind to help avoid such waterfowl navigation problems. 

[Farmer]

 Watch one a couple of weeks ago hit the power lines down the road , no power for 15 hrs. The reflectors that they put up do not help at all.

[aaronoto]

I sure it happens quite a bit, have I ever seen it no, I would say your lucky to have seen such a accident.  In the Skagit Valley many of the power lines in high waterfowl traffic areas have bright, shiny little spinners that spin in the wind to help avoid such waterfowl navigation problems. 

Thanks, I always wondered what those were for...

[dreamunelk]

I was walking back to my car after duck hunting a field and watched a flock of swan flying low over the field heading towards a    different field when all of sudden i see three swan hit the power line . It was right next to my car . I was thinking great that looks real good three swan standing in the road right next  to my car . But by the time i got to my car thankfully they were able to fly  off. Has anyone else ever seen this happen ?

I suggest you contact the local power company and tell them what you seen.   Power lines are a source of mortality for swans and naturally the power companies don't want that in the news.  I would also let them know you will report to WDFW also. 

[steen]

We lost power a couple weeks ago due to swans hitting the power lines.

[h2ofowlr]

Last year I saw a swan arc out. It was DOA when it hit the ground.

[3nails]

Last year I saw a swan arc out. It was DOA when it hit the ground.

I'll bet the news said the next day "Swan found dead from injesting lead pellets".

[cryfowl]

Usually find one or two dead ones each year.  Getting a little better since they started putting markers on the wires so the swans can see them better.

[Jack Diamond]

An Article in the new edition of NW sportman with a game Leo talking about swans and powerlines.

[Skagit_Hunter]

Watch one a couple of weeks ago hit the power lines down the road , no power for 15 hrs. The reflectors that they put up do not help at all.

They work in Skagit County. But like everything else with budget cuts. there is a high number of wire strikes.

[Special T]

They only arc out if they touch more than one wire.  it is possible to hit only one and live... You all have seen the birds sitting on the power lines right?

[preacherman]

I thought the spinning reflectors were for the crop dusters? I know they use them in other places for that, I just assumed that it was the purpose here also.

[Special T]

Crop dusters arn't as big a deal in the skagit valley as in the Basin... To small of feild and chance to get bad wind drift.

[Dan-o]

I saw a goose set his wings and boink right into a power line 12-15 years ago.   It was a ways off, but the goose definitely hit the line and cartwheeled to earth.    I went looking, but didn't find the goose.

[Skyhigh]

They work in Skagit County. But like everything else with budget cuts. there is a high number of wire strikes.

So you believe Skagit county pays for these? try again...

[Hornseeker]

Power company should pay for them....

I found two pelicans below some powerlines just the other day...

And with a 8-10foot wing span, I think a swan could easily hit two wires and arc...

[Skyhigh]

Power company should pay for them....

I found two pelicans below some powerlines just the other day...

And with a 8-10foot wing span, I think a swan could easily hit two wires and arc...

In Skagit county thats exactly who pays for it. They have spent hundreds of thousands in reducing avian conflicts with powerlines over the last decade. They are mandated by the feds to do so.
A swan can either die from a contact with a line and then the fall or it can arc the two lines and die from electrocution same with eagles and other species..

[h2ofowlr]

A quality hunt Swan program might help to push them to another state, similar to the snow geese.  Might be an option.   

[johnsc6]

I thought the spinning reflectors were for the crop dusters? I know they use them in other places for that, I just assumed that it was the purpose here also.

nope.. for the swans, Who cares about the crop dusters???

[Skagit_Hunter]

I thought the spinning reflectors were for the crop dusters? I know they use them in other places for that, I just assumed that it was the purpose here also.

Crop dusters here are almost a thing of the past.