Protecting birds and the bottom line

New technology aims to keep birds flying, power company profits soaring

Normally when Rocky Mountain Raptor Center director Judy Scherpelz sees an eagle or hawk perched upon a power line crossbar, her breath catches in her throat.

But as she watched Raptor Center volunteer Nancy Prior purposely lift a young golden eagle toward a crossbar a few weeks ago, Scherpelz’s breathing didn’t falter a bit. That’s because the eagle was being placed atop the power pole to demonstrate Safe-Bird, a new product aimed at saving both raptor lives and utility-company profits.

The power lines, constructed inside a flight cage at the Raptor Center…