by Becca Maddox
Grade 6 - Pizitz Middle School (Vestavia Hills, AL, United States)
First Place
Project Objective: To protect the endangered whooping crane (grus americana) from the dangers of collision with power lines and wind turbines.
Project Rationale:
The human race has been trying to find an alternate energy source for as long as most people can remember. We have tried water, wind, and solar power. We have even drilled down into the earth to find energy. But… have we ever thought about how this could be harming animals?
The whooping crane is a majestic bird. It is five feet tall, making it the tallest bird in America. It is also the most endangered crane in the world. The greatest threats to the whooping crane include loss of wetland habitats and the danger of fatal collision with power lines and wind turbines. In 1941, the worldwide population of whooping cranes had fallen to 15 birds. As of 2012, their numbers had risen to 500-600 birds. This is not a sustaining amount but is a significant improvement.
With the recognition of the sharp decline of whooping cranes in 1941, conservationists worked with government to revive the crane population. All 15 remaining birds were in the same flock, therefore it was easier to get them to mate. As the flock increased, conservationists tried to form new flocks. The first attempt in Idaho failed. The next attempt in Florida was a success but the cranes never learned to migrate. They started another flock in Florida and conservationists taught them how to migrate. They built an ultralight plane that flew the baby chicks from Florida to Wisconsin and back. They continued this “Operation Migration” because the cranes never learned how to fly without it. Just last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service halted these ultralight flights.
I was lucky enough to see a whooping crane this past November when I visited the Wheeler Wildlife refuge in northern Alabama. My family and I went to see the sandhill cranes and in the middle of the flock was an endangered whooping crane. We were told she was a female and had migrated with this flock of sandhill cranes before.
Implementation and Funding:
Although we have made progress, whooping cranes are still endangered. I have developed an idea that could help prevent whooping cranes from running into power lines and possibly wind turbines – one of the greatest threats to their survival. Most birds including whooping cranes see ultraviolet light. I propose that we create a sprayable liquid rubber (hevea) compound that reflects UV rays. Much like commercially produced liquid rubber sprays, the compound could be used for a variety of purposes. We could make it in both black and white so that it would blend into the power lines and wind turbines. It could also be adapted for use on the edges of airplane wings, helicopter blades, cell towers, and buildings.
Although power line tags that reflect UV rays have already been tested, they do not reflect the entire power line. The sprayable rubber will. The insulating rubber will also provide an extra layer of protection for other birds, animals, and even people who come in contact with power lines.
Many human resources will be involved in successful implementation of this plan. Chemical engineers will develop the non-toxic compound for the spray. Electrical engineers will work with power company officials to design the process for application to existing lines and a separate process for application to new lines that should be coated before installation when possible. Mechanical engineers will design an industrial grade applicator that collects any overspray. Conservationists will be consulted to determine the highest priority power lines in the migratory routes of the whooping cranes. All stakeholders will be involved in testing the product. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services will draft the necessary regulations for safest use.
The economic impact would be substantial. Jobs will be created for those developing, testing, and implementing the project. Demand will be created for all supplies and materials needed from other companies. Because of the size and scope of the project, funding will be provided from the U.S. government in partnership with the power companies involved.
North American whooping cranes are unique and magnificent creatures that are dying from preventable collisions with power lines and wind turbines. With just a little bit of effort we could greatly diminish this unnecessary loss.
Endangered whooping cranes in their winter home at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Decatur, Ala. (Photo by George Lee, courtesy International Crane Foundation)
References
Pillion, Dennis. “Whooping cranes are back at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.” Decmber 24, 2016. http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2016/12/whooping_cranes_return_to_whee.html
Hendee, David. “Reflective powerline tags reduce crane deaths.” April 1, 2013. http://www.omaha.com/news/reflective-power-line-tags-reduce-crane-deaths/article_e3c1b6b8-d184-5bf2-8d91-98b52c4f085f.html
Lucas, Jim. “What is ultraviolet light?” March 13, 2015. http://www.livescience.com/50326-what-is-ultraviolet-light.html
No Author. “Grus Americana.” http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22692156/0
No Author. “Whooping Crane.” http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/birds/whooping-crane.aspx