Gail has consulted 16 different key individuals - from Wales Osprey Projects, Bird / Raptor, Wildlife, Conservation Organisations and persons with ground knowledge - during June-July 2015 - to draw up the locations and boundaries of these Osprey zones. Currently 12 zones have been identified and mapped of which 8 lie within the area where Scottish Power / SP Energy Networks is the Utility Company Electricity Supplier. A carefully marked up map with accompanying written notes giving specific descriptions, nest zones, fishing, feeding sites, plus the list of people consulted, was presented to SP managers on Thursday 30th July during Gail's second meeting with them at RSPB Conwy Bird Reserve cafe. This zones map is understood to be subject to change as the hoped for Osprey population increases and is to be revised annually.
Subsequently Gail has clarified exactly what action SP are going to take:
RISK ASSESSMENT Step-by-Step Plan 1. The 8 relevant Wales Osprey Zones are being mapped onto SP's GIS Modernisation System 2. SP's Central Allocation Team will identify if any area due to be modernised lies within any Osprey Risk Zones 3. Those identified modernisation jobs will carry an Osprey Alert when allocated, showing the risk delineation area 4. The SP manager responsible will instruct on-site engineers to run risk assessments on poles, lines in the Osprey Zone(s) 5. The SP engineer(s) will apply a checklist of designated Osprey Risk Criteria to locate any electricity supply potentially hazardous to large winged birds - which assess pertinent variables including: specifics of location / topography, attractiveness for perching / lack of alternatives, short distances between energised parts and live to grounded parts, exposed wiring, complexity of infrastructure design, presence and shape of transformer with jumper wires, upright pins, orientation of the pole to the lie of the land and prevailing weather 6. Any poles, lines found to pose a risk hazard will be fitted out to meet state-of-the-art Osprey-friendly specifications using mitigation measures like insulating exposed wiring / prominent live parts, cross-arm spikes, a safe transformer design, other perching discouragers and flight diverters as relevant
Gail will keep a check with SP on progress to track results and outcomes.