Watch the birdie

Rooyen, Chris van; Vosloo, Hein F.; Harness, Richard E.

doi:10.1109/mia.2003.1227873

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Raptors often are the focus of APPs because the large size of many raptors increases their electrocution risk and because persistent electrocution mortality has been implicated in raptor population declines in Europe (Real et al 2001;Sergio et al 2004), Asia (Harness et al 2008;Karyakin et al 2009;Goroshko 2011), andAfrica (Angelov et al 2012) and in disruptions to social structure in North America (Dawson 1988). Avian electrocutions have been extensively documented in North America (e.g., Harness & Wilson 2001;APLIC 2006;Dwyer & Mannan 2007) Europe (Tintó et al 2010;Guil et al 2011;López-López et al 2011), Asia (Harness et al 2008;Karyakin et al 2009;Goroshko 2011), Africa (Van Rooyen et al 2003;Boshoff et al 2011), and New Zealand (Fox & Wynn 2010). Electrocution incidents can affect an electric system's reliability by causing outages (Harness & Wilson 2001;APLIC 2006), equipment damage (Van Rooyen et al 2003;APLIC 2006), and fires (Lehman & Barrett 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Avian electrocutions have been extensively documented in North America (e.g., Harness & Wilson 2001;APLIC 2006;Dwyer & Mannan 2007) Europe (Tintó et al 2010;Guil et al 2011;López-López et al 2011), Asia (Harness et al 2008;Karyakin et al 2009;Goroshko 2011), Africa (Van Rooyen et al 2003;Boshoff et al 2011), and New Zealand (Fox & Wynn 2010). Electrocution incidents can affect an electric system's reliability by causing outages (Harness & Wilson 2001;APLIC 2006), equipment damage (Van Rooyen et al 2003;APLIC 2006), and fires (Lehman & Barrett 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Predictive Model of Avian Electrocution Risk on Overhead Power Lines

Dwyer

Harness

Donohue

2013

Conservation Biology

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Electrocution on overhead power structures negatively affects avian populations in diverse ecosystems worldwide, contributes to the endangerment of raptor populations in Europe and Africa, and is a major driver of legal action against electric utilities in North America. We investigated factors associated with avian electrocutions so poles that are likely to electrocute a bird can be identified and retrofitted prior to causing avian mortality. We used historical data from southern California to identify patterns of avian electrocution by voltage, month, and year to identify species most often killed by electrocution in our study area and to develop a predictive model that compared poles where an avian electrocution was known to have occurred (electrocution poles) with poles where no known electrocution occurred (comparison poles). We chose variables that could be quantified by personnel with little training in ornithology or electric systems. Electrocutions were more common at distribution voltages (≤ 33 kV) and during breeding seasons and were more commonly reported after a retrofitting program began. Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) (n = 265) and American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) (n = 258) were the most commonly electrocuted species. In the predictive model, 4 of 14 candidate variables were required to distinguish electrocution poles from comparison poles: number of jumpers (short wires connecting energized equipment), number of primary conductors, presence of grounding, and presence of unforested unpaved areas as the dominant nearby land cover. When tested against a sample of poles not used to build the model, our model distributed poles relatively normally across electrocution-risk values and identified the average risk as higher for electrocution poles relative to comparison poles. Our model can be used to reduce avian electrocutions through proactive identification and targeting of high-risk poles for retrofitting.

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