Local lines company, Powerco, is taking action to help protect endangered bittern matuku-hūrepo from accidentally colliding with its power lines on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Powerco is installing 280 bird diverters across 29 spans of power lines in five areas on the land within Whangapoua Harbour, between Matarangi and Whangapoua.

The devices, which clamp onto the power line at 10 metre spacing and make the lines more visible to birds, are designed to reduce the risk of collisions. They spin in the wind and include reflective and ultraviolet panels that improve their visibility during the day and at night.

Powerco General Manager Electricity Karen Frew says the project reflects Powerco’s commitment to working with communities where the company owns and operates the local electricity network – in this instance to find practical ways to protect local birds from injury or death.

“We want to reduce the risk that power lines pose to this threatened species. Local knowledge has been invaluable in helping us identify areas where these devices can make a difference.

"The birds come into Whangapoua Harbour and fly really low towards the hills – about the same height as our power lines are. We've marked out five sections of line where the birds fly and we're installing bird diverters on those sections,” Karen Frew says.

“Diverters have been used locally and internationally, with evidence showing fewer bird strikes in areas where they have been installed. As well as using information from local people, we use network fault data to identify locations where bird-related incidents may be occurring as bird strikes also cause power outages, which are not only inconvenient for local people, but are costly to repair."

Because they can be installed using specialised live-line equipment and drones for two of the five sections, the work can be completed without the need for a planned power outage to install.

Downer is carrying out the installation on Powerco's behalf during November.