Have undergone a battery of tests at leading Universities & independent laboratories
Years of field testing and used by major utilities & asset owners throughout the world
Certified as visible from over 4400 feet or 1.3km. FAA requires visibility from 4000 feet and AS 3891 requires visibility from 1km.
Unique combination of 3D shape, contrasting colours and rotating design creates class leading high impact visualisation of Power Lines
Increased spacing over similar products on the market reduces installation cost and total cost of ownership
Flexible installation options including from the ground with telescopic hot stick, from bucket truck with shotgun stick, from helicopter or drone
Our bird flight diverter (BIRDFLAPPA™), uses a spring clamp design, with a durable flapper attachment. Simple, yet effective, this device is designed to be durable through a range of environments. The flapper component leverages a glow in the dark effect.
Many species of birds become active outside of normal daylight conditions. Bird Diverters which are effective only during daylight hours will not be effective for these species. The glow in dark effect creates a striking contrast in low light conditions, allowing the birds to see the foot print of the power line, well after the sun has gone down.
Power Line Warning Markers (ROTAMARKA™) provide an outstanding visual warning. This can be for; low flying aircraft, mining or construction sites where accidental contact or collision is at risk.
ROTAMARKA™ Warning Marker range are purpose built and designed to provide an engineered outcome. Combing a unique feature set not seen elsewhere of three dimensional form, constant rotating movement and internally contrasting colours!
They can be installed for both temporary and long term demarcation of power lines, cables, wires and conductors.
The 3D articulated design is Patent Pending and rotates and agitates in even low wind conditions providing a superior visual indicator from all angles of approach.
Contrasting colours increase the visual impact. Known as internal contrast, this is important due to varying background lighting conditions.
The clamp is universal and fits a range of conductors opening and closing from 2-50mm. Soft jaws increase grip to stop cable creep and protect conductors.
High quality reflectors increase the visual impact.
Available with an Eye Ring fitting to work with standard live line tools. Can be installed from the ground with Telescopic Hot Sticks.
NEW, now also to be installed by Drone or UAV device. Speciality air-craft with regulation approvals in key markets mean that Power line marking is now safer, more accessible and affordable than ever! Refer to our partner website for further details here>> V-Tol Aerospace
A V-TOL Aerospace RPAS Team operating a V-TOL Rota-Fix Hornet successfully Rotamarkas along a 1km pole to pole 11kV feeder at Lake St Clair, NSW in April 2023.
ROTAMARKAs now installable on Guy Wires!
Especially in an agricultural setting, poles can pose a risk to farm machinery and even crop dusters. Polemarkas are designed to make them more visible and are simple to install. Simply screw in some Tek screws and the problem is solved. Comes UV tested and with durable 3M high vis reflectors. (note consult the asset owner prior to installation of these devices)
The LINEZEBRA is a versatile new style of Bird Diverter and Marker. Black and White specification follows the work of Professor Graham Martin, by maximising the contrasting elements, this combination excels as a bird flight diverter. The orange and white combination is excellent for use around construction sites as a temporary marker to warn operators of the close proximity of power lines. The LINEZEBRA combines a durable stainless tube with nylon fingers that move independently with a breeze. This create a hardy, long lasting solution with a simple hinge mechanism employed for movement.
The all new Balmoral FLAGMARKA is a light weight, simple device designed for temporary use around constructions sites. Compliant with AS 3891.2, this device is easily installable with it’s spring clamp snap close design. Can be installed via hot stick, with a specialty tool for both installation and uninstallation.
Bird Blockers assist in the prevention of birds from landing or settling on power lines. Birds can create adverse loading conditions on power lines. Their guano or excrement over time can also damage power line assets. Habitual frequenting of power lines by birds can also create a public nuisance. Bird Blockers are easy to install, light weight and effective in mitigating the impact of birds landing on power lines.
POWER LINE STRIKES ARE AN ONGOING RISK TO
UTILITY ASSETS THE WORLD OVER
BIRD COLLISIONS WITH POWER LINES
Millions of bird species in the US are injured and killed every year due to collisions with Power Lines. According to one research paper published by The National Center for Biotechnology Information:
8-57M
BIRD DEATHSEACH YEAR
“Between 12 and 64 million birds are killed each year at U.S. power lines, with between 8 and 57 million birds killed by collision”
CONTACT WITH POWER LINES AROUND BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES
Construction and building sites routinely approach or encroach critical safety clearances around Power Lines. Cranes, Dump Trucks, Scaffolding, Ladders and Personnel are all at risk of contact:
~82
FATALITIESEACH YEAR
“Eighty-two construction workers died from electrocution in 2015, a number the Center for Construction Research and Training – also known as CPWR – calls unacceptably high”
LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT COLLISIONS WITH POWER LINES
Power Lines skirt or cross agricultural land and can be almost invisible to pilots. According to WMC Action News 5:
6
FATALITIESEACH YEAR
“6 fatal crop duster crashes happened in Arkansas alone since 2013”
MINING EQUIPMENT COLLISIONS WITH POWER LINES
In a report compiled by the Queensland Government, in a localised area of mining activity within the state there was:
6
INCIDENTSIn A 12 MONTH PERIOD
"Six reported incidents over the last twelve months that have involved Mine mobile equipment contacting energised overhead power line infrastructure" Mines safety bulletin no. 95
LEARN MORE ABOUT US, OUR PRODUCTS AND OUR SERVICES
Browse our selection of short videos to explain our story as well as product information, demonstrations and customer examples
BIRDFLAPPA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Refer to Product Data Sheet for full details)
The BIRDFLAPPATM is designed & manufactured in Sydney Australia.
The BIRDFLAPPATM testing was carried out by a variety of 3rd party testing facilities & specialist organisations for example:
– Snow & Ice loading – Winter in Hokkaido Japan.
– Wind Tunnel testing – Leading Sydney Universities.
– Corona & RIV testing – Overseas qualified test lab.
The clamps are black, and the flapper is a natural colour due to the glow in the dark pigment. There are also yellow high vis reflectors on each side of the flapper.
As the BIRDFLAPPATM is primarily used for birds, the black clamps and the glow in the dark flapper, offer the greatest contrast in low light conditions such as dawn or dusk.
The product can be installed and uninstalled with a “Shotgun Stick” no further tools required(note check with Balmoral as some older versions of BIRDFLAPPA were not Shotgun Stick compatible). We also have purpose designed hot stick tools with an industry standard sunriser adapter fitting that provides for a secure and efficient method of installation and uninstallation.
All clamping components are manufactured in high strength UV resistance Nylon 6 (not metal) and the clamp jaws are lined with TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) which will mould around the conductor to help prevent any conductor deformation. The clamp has been tested on a number of cable types including OPGW and no adverse affects have been recorded.
As per normal power line components, no cleaning is required, however, if desired, the BIRDFLAPPATM can be cleaned with mild detergent and water (No chemical solvents). Please refer to the current Instructions For Use for further details.
All the BIRDFLAPPATM plastic components are manufactured in high strength UV resistance Nylon 6 which has been used in the electrical industry for over 30 years in various outdoor components and clamps. It includes UV stabilisers and has been proven to be very stable in outdoor conditions.
The BIRDFLAPPATM materials are tested to and complies with ISO 4892-3, ASTM D 638, ISO 4582.
This is a rating as per ISO 10289 – Methods of corrosion testing of metallic and other inorganic coatings on metallic substrates—Rating of test specimens and manufactured articles subject to corrosion tests. A rating of 9 represents corrosion of 0.1% of the total area.
Refer to ISO 9227-Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres-Salt spray tests, the salt spray concentration 50g/L sodium chloride solution. That’s 5% salt spray fog, which is higher than sea spray concentration.
Balmoral Engineering offers a 3-year warranty on item number series: BD-SC-1K-GID. Please refer to our Warranty Table available on our website for further details.
Corona is a luminous, audible discharge that occurs when there is an excessive localised electric field gradient upon an object that causes the ionisation and possible electrical breakdown of the air adjacent to this point.
Corona Inception Voltage – The voltage at which corona is first detected as the voltage is gradually increased.
Corona extinction Voltage –The voltage at which corona ceases to exist as the voltage is gradually decreased.
The purpose of the slip test is to measure the BIRDFLAPPATM’s product clamping ability. This is import since it informs us about the anti-slip ability on specific conductors. Refer to IEC 61897, clause 7.5 clamp slip test method, tested on ∅21.6mm OD ASCR conductor.
The test result means when the BIRDFLAPPATM is installed on ∅21.6mm OD ASCR conductor, 145N (32lb) force will initiate the device to slip or shift on the conductor. Calculations have shown that at 67m/s (150mph) wind speed, the longitudinal wind force on the BIRDFLAPPATM will be 43.2 N (9.7lb). This is much lower than the force required to cause the device to slip on the conductor.
Due to the characteristics of the torsion spring, spring force will reduce over time. Our calculations show that after 20 years, the force required to cause the device to slip will be greater than the wind force of 43.2 N (9.7lb) at 67m/s (150mph).
This test seeks to quantify or understand the relationship between overhead power lines, corona discharge and it’s potential interference with communication circuits.
The test results show the measured RIV values at equivalent Ø-Ø test voltages. According to IEEE 1656, Performance of Wildlife Protective Devices on Overhead Power Distribution Systems Rated up to 38 kV, “The wildlife guard or deterrent passes the RIV test if the average RIV value is not greater than 100 μV”.
The test result showed that the RIV value is 98.9μV at 116kV Ø-Ø.
Due to the function of the phosphorescent pigment, the glow in dark flapper requires only a very short exposure to any light source to produce its intense afterglow. If charging by direct sunlight at noon, 10-15 minutes will be fully charged. If charging by 395nm black light, one minute will be fully charged.
According to DIN 67510-1:2009, in the standard laboratory environment, tested the decay time of the phosphorescent pigment is over 16hours. However, the glow duration and intensity of the BIRDFLAPPA devices will be affected by external factors such as surrounding and ambient light.
The Line load is an additional force exerted by the device on the powerline. It is a combined force of the device gravity and the wind force at different wind speeds; it’s a theoretical value calculated based on the given Coefficient of Drag and the projected area of the device at different wind speed. The actual value may vary depending on the state of the device at different wind speeds.
Michelson Contrast can be defined as the overall visibility of a pattern or object. Michelson Contrast is found by finding the max luminance and minimum luminance of the object and comparing them using the equation:
This means that the higher the Michelson Contrast the better. Research done by Dr Graham Martin recommends this method for quantifying contrast for use in bird diverters.
Below scientific studies show the reductions effectiveness of the flapper type bird diverters.
The ice load is calculated according to EN 50341-2-4. This standard addresses requirements for any overhead wire exceeding AC 1Kv in Germany. The Line load total calculation is based on the theoretical ice buildup on each section in Zone 4 (40mm of ice buildup). The Ice gain on the BIRDFLAPPA is based on the real world snow fall pattern.
Bird diverters for power lines improve conductor visibility by adding movement, contrast, and light response that birds can detect in flight. Bird flight diverters and wire markers create a visible footprint of the line that helps birds judge distance and avoid impact. Systems such as BIRDFLAPPA™ use a spring clamp with a flexible flapper that moves in wind, increasing visibility across multiple angles. Our addition of glow in the dark material extends effectiveness beyond daylight hours which is critical for the many species active at dawn, dusk, or night.
Yes. Our reflective bird diverters have a glow-enhanced design specifically developed for low-light performance. BIRDFLAPPA™ bird flight diverters incorporate glow in the dark elements that create contrast after sunset. This is important because many bird species are active outside standard daylight hours. Standard bird diverters power lines solutions that rely only on daylight visibility are less effective in these conditions. Combining reflective bird diverters with overhead line visibility markers such as Rotamarka units or marker balls on overhead lines improves detection for both wildlife and aircraft.
Yes. Many bird diverters and overhead line markers are designed for live-line installation. Products such as BIRDFLAPPA™ and Rotamarka use clamp-based systems that fit a wide conductor range, typically around 2–50 mm, with soft jaws to prevent cable creep and protect the conductor. Installation can be carried out using telescopic hot sticks from the ground via integrated eye ring fittings, reducing the need for outages. For more complex or remote installations, overhead line markers can also be deployed using UAV or drone systems, improving safety and access. This makes them suitable for temporary or long-term use across utilities, mining, and construction environments where maintaining live operations is critical.
ROTAMARKA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Refer to Product Data Sheet for full details)
Nylon 6 is a high strength material that has been used in the Electrical Industry for various connectors and clamps for over 30 years. It has also been used in many industries where High Strength is required, including the Motor Industry for various vehicle components such as Water Pumps etc.
Nylon 6 has been used in the Electrical Industry for over 30 years in various outdoor components and clamps. It includes UV stabilisers and has been proven to be very stable in outdoor conditions. All the metal components are made of Stainless Steel or Brass and are known to be very durable in outdoor conditions. These factors combine to ensure both excellent colour stability and structural integrity of the fins.
No. All clamping components are manufactured in high strength Nylon 6 (not metal) and the clamp fingers are lined with rubber which will mould around the conductor and help prevent any conductor distortion.
As per normal Power Line Components, no cleaning is required, however, if desired, the Warning Marker can be cleaned with mild detergent and water.
The Marker weighs around 800 grams.
The Markers combine a Universal Joint hinged mechanism with rotation which helps dissipate wind loadings and maximises the visual performance of the device. For detailed loading calculations, please refer to our data sheet.
Bird diverters for power lines improve conductor visibility by adding movement, contrast, and light response that birds can detect in flight. Bird flight diverters and wire markers create a visible footprint of the line that helps birds judge distance and avoid impact. Systems such as BIRDFLAPPA™ use a spring clamp with a flexible flapper that moves in wind, increasing visibility across multiple angles. Our addition of glow in the dark material extends effectiveness beyond daylight hours which is critical for the many species active at dawn, dusk, or night.
ROTAMARKA warning markers are engineered for high visibility across aviation, construction and industrial environments. Unlike static overhead line markers or basic marker balls for power lines they combine a three-dimensional articulated form, continuous rotation and internal colour contrast. This creates strong visual signals from all approach angles, even in low wind conditions. Common use cases include mining, construction, and agricultural environments such as crop dusting. Our high-quality reflectors improve performance in low-light conditions, giving them a clear advantage over standard power line markers or warning flags.
Yes. Our reflective bird diverters have a glow-enhanced design specifically developed for low-light performance. BIRDFLAPPA™ bird flight diverters incorporate glow in the dark elements that create contrast after sunset. This is important because many bird species are active outside standard daylight hours. Standard bird diverters power lines solutions that rely only on daylight visibility are less effective in these conditions. Combining reflective bird diverters with overhead line visibility markers such as Rotamarka units or marker balls on overhead lines improves detection for both wildlife and aircraft.
Yes. Many bird diverters and overhead line markers are designed for live-line installation. Products such as BIRDFLAPPA™ and Rotamarka use clamp-based systems that fit a wide conductor range, typically around 2–50 mm, with soft jaws to prevent cable creep and protect the conductor. Installation can be carried out using telescopic hot sticks from the ground via integrated eye ring fittings, reducing the need for outages. For more complex or remote installations, overhead line markers can also be deployed using UAV or drone systems, improving safety and access. This makes them suitable for temporary or long-term use across utilities, mining, and construction environments where maintaining live operations is critical.
WHITEPAPERS
