Space–time trends in Spanish bird electrocution rates from alternative information sources

Abstract

a b s t r a c tInteraction with man-made infrastructures is one of the main sources of non-natural bird mortality. Here, we use a long-term study to analyse spatial and temporal patterns in avian electrocution in Spain, using ringed birds as well as published reports and articles as information sources. Electrocution rates of ringed birds differ from rates obtained in unringed species. Electrocution rates are likely seasonally asymmetrical and are not constant across study periods: between 1990 and 2005 an annual rising trend of 5% was observed, whereas between 2006 and 2010 this trend decreased (16% annually). From the literature, we confirmed this decreasing trend. However, when we consider large eagles (Aquila genus), which include several of the most threatened bird species in Spain, this Raptors Ringing recoveries Spain decreasing trend is not evident. The results of the analysis of different environmental and socio-economic factors affecting bird electrocution rates are similar between ringed birds and traditional power line surveys. Our modelling suggests three common factors that influence mortality rates: number of hunted rabbits, tree coverage and length of the power line network. Thus, the use of alternative information sources to detect high mortality areas due to electrocution by power lines may be a useful tool to complement other methods.

Using risk prediction models and species sensitivity maps for large-scale identification of infrastructure-related wildlife protection areas: The case of bird electrocution

“…Especially high was the southermost part of the Valencian Region, where maximum values of up to 45 electrocutions per 1 km 2 and mortality rates of 102 electrocutions per 100 pylons were documented by Izquierdo et al (1997). This represents one of the highest mortality values recorded in Spain (Guil et al, 2015), and appears to have resulted from the spatial co-ocurrence of an outdated electrical distribution network and an abundant population of raptors. In fact, this area commonly holds a high concentration of dispersing juvenile and non-breeding adults of Bonelli's eagle and golden eagle, and also has one of the densest Eurasian eagle owl populations in Europe (Pérez-García et al, 2012).…”

Differential adult survival at close seabird colonies: The importance of spatial foraging segregation and bycatch risk during the breeding season

“…Agents of global change, such as anthropogenic mortality and overharvesting, increase environmental variability and unpredictability and may result in large declines in adult survival. Additionally, temporal and spatial scales should be taken into account when assessing anthropogenic mortality risk, as both animal and anthropogenic threat may vary at a spatial and a temporal scale (Bradbury et al, 2014;Brown, Reid, & Rogan, 2015;Guil, Colomer, Moreno-Opo, & Margalida, 2015).…”

Les oiseaux et les réseaux électriques en Afrique du Nord: guide pratique pour l’identification et la prévention des lignes électriques dangereuses

“…Les modèles prédictifs qui incluent les caractéristiques du pylône fonctionnent très bien, mais ont pour inconvénient de collecter une grande quantité d'informations très détaillées, de sorte que leur utilisation à des échelles géographiques plus ou moins grandes est compliquée. De plus, dans ces cas, il semble que d'autres facteurs, tels que l'utilisation des sols, la densité des lignes électriques et l'abondance des barrages, pourraient être encore plus importants pour évaluer la mortalité et donc sélectionner les domaines d'action prioritaires (Pérez-García, 2014 ;Guil et al, 2015). Dans le cas des points noirs comportant des taux de mortalité élevés et une concentration importante de pylônes potentiellement dangereux sur lesquels il est nécessaire de hiérarchiser les actions (pour des raisons opérationnelles ou en raison d'un manque de ressources économiques), il est conseillé de concevoir un plan d'action établissant ces priorités (Photo 8-7).…”