State Grid Huangshi Power Supply Company: Young People from China and Abroad Come Together for Bird Conservation

Recently, ahead of National Ecology Day, international students from Hubei Polytechnic University’s International College visited State Grid Huangshi Power Supply Company’s bird conservation volunteer service station for an international exchange and practical learning activity focused on biodiversity conservation.

International students visit State Grid Huangshi Power Supply Company’s bird conservation volunteer service station. Photo by Nie Qianying

Drawing on their transmission line inspection work, volunteers gave the students a detailed introduction to the company’s comprehensive bird conservation approach. During routine transmission line inspection and maintenance, volunteer team members also conduct field patrols to monitor and protect birds, rescue injured migratory birds, and provide public education on ecological conservation. Through these efforts, they protect wild bird habitats along transmission line corridors while ensuring the safe and stable operation of the power grid. The students stopped to view display panels documenting wild bird rescues and locally captured images of migratory birds, and held in-depth discussions on transboundary bird migration and bird conservation in urban wetlands.

A scene from the event. Photo by Nie Qianying

An international student from Pakistan said that his home country also sees large numbers of migratory birds. He had not previously been aware that the power sector had dedicated bird conservation measures and said that the model, which balances industrial production with ecological conservation, offered valuable lessons.

Muhammad Asad, a nursing student in the 2025 cohort at Hubei Polytechnic University’s International College, said that he had once believed ecological conservation and industrial development had little to do with each other. “Today, I realized that green development can be found in every detail of inspection and rescue work,” he said. He added that after returning home, he would share what he had learned and encourage local residents to help protect wild birds.

The students also watched an intelligent substation inspection robot carry out an inspection. By replacing traditional manual inspections, this automated approach significantly reduces carbon emissions associated with vehicle trips and staff travel. This green and low-carbon operation and maintenance model is in keeping with the low-carbon development principles promoted on National Ecology Day.

(By Tan Ran and Ma Leinan)