All species of birds provide intrinsic value to society and contribute to the biological diversity in our environment. Historically, the focus of bird and power line interactions was on raptors (birds of prey) because of their ecological and social value, sensitivity to toxic substances, habitat alteration and destruction, and persecution by humans. As our understanding of bird (avian) interactions with power lines has continued to evolve, the focus has expanded to the protection of all avian species. This protection includes safeguarding species from electrocution and collision as well as minimizing the impacts of birds on system safety, reliability, function, and long-term maintenance of the electric grid. As noted by electric utilities, millions of dollars are spent annually to implement and maintain avian protections.