As countries transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, impacts on wildlife, particularly avian species, have become a concern. In Kenya, the effects of human-made infrastructure such as power lines and wind turbines on birds have been overlooked. To prevent further loss of biodiversity, it is necessary for infrastructure development policies to consider these impacts on birds. We aim to identify gaps in current policies by analysing the intersection of wildlife conservation and power-line infrastructure development in Kenya. Through content analysis, we evaluate the effectiveness of existing wildlife protection and energy-related policies and identify strengths and weaknesses to highlight areas for improvement. Our analysis reveals that current policies neglect threats posed by power lines and other infrastructure to birds. This oversight points to challenges such as a lack of awareness among policymakers and stakeholders and a lack of legal obligation for energy institutions to implement mitigation measures; conservationists may also face conflicts with those responsible for electricity distribution. Addressing these policy gaps is essential for effective wildlife conservation and sustainable development. This paper underscores the need to integrate wildlife conservation considerations into energy infrastructure planning to mitigate adverse impacts on avian species.

Monitoring population trends is important for evaluating the effectiveness of conservation interventions. An annual aerial census of three crane species, the Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum, Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus and Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus, was performed in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa over the past 23 years. These crane species are listed as ‘Endangered’, ‘Vulnerable’, and ‘Vulnerable’, respectively, on the IUCN Red List. KwaZulu-Natal was chosen as a key site for monitoring as it covers an important region for cranes that has received concerted conservation effort since the 1980s. These annual surveys are conducted by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, a provincial conservation agency, and the Endangered Wildlife Trust, a conservation non-profit organisation. We estimated crane population trends from data collected by means of standardised surveys conducted between 2003 and 2019. Results from the surveys show a steady and significant increase in the population size of all three crane species. Interventions including power line collision mitigation and engagement with landowners have been implemented in formal conservation programs to protect these cranes. Results from the annual census suggest that conservation interventions have been effective.