Tenerife Council Installs Protective Vinyls on TF-1 to Prevent Bird Collisions
The Tenerife Council has installed signage vinyls on the glass acoustic panels along the TF-1 motorway in Candelaria, aiming to prevent bird collisions with these transparent surfaces.
This initiative comes after officials identified a critical area where avian mortality rates were notably high due to birds striking the acoustic barriers. The affected stretch measures approximately 93 metres and encompasses 24 glass panels located near a wooded area where various bird species seek refuge and nest.
The project features vertical white vinyl bands, each two centimetres wide and spaced eight centimetres apart, which effectively eliminate the glass’s transparency and reflection. This alteration helps birds recognise the barrier and reduces the risk of impact.
Dámaso Arteaga, Tenerife’s Roads Councillor, emphasised that this project illustrates the need for environmental considerations in road management. He stated that “with a simple and effective intervention, we address a problem highlighted by our technicians and environmental groups, making infrastructure preservation compatible with biodiversity protection.”
Blanca Pérez, the Councillor for Natural Resources, added that “protecting biodiversity necessitates action at points where wildlife is adversely affected. This measure will significantly reduce bird mortality in a particularly sensitive area.”
Reports from the Council’s Biodiversity Unit and environmental agents confirmed that bird fatalities in this spot have been ongoing, primarily due to birds failing to notice the glass panels when leaving their vegetative cover.
The project was awarded to Pekis Creativa S.L. for €6,521.65 (including VAT) and is set to be completed within 15 days. This includes both the manufacturing and installation of the vinyls on the 24 affected acoustic panels.
With this initiative, the Tenerife Council continues to implement innovative solutions that balance road improvements with the preservation of the island’s wildlife and natural heritage.
