Abstract
Recoveries of birds ringed in Sweden from the period 1990–2017 were used to analyse the occurrence of collisions with power lines and electrocutions. Out of more than 10,000 recoveries of birds found dead with finding circumstances mentioned, 8.6% was associated with power line constructions. The number of species involved was 51 and high proportions were especially evident in some species of owls and raptors. The overall proportion of recoveries caused by collision / electrocution shows a significant decrease over time. A decrease over time in the proportions of electrocution and collision was also evident when analysing finding circumstances in four species where corpses were sent to the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Information about the power line system in Sweden during the period 2007–2016 shows that the length of local power lines has decreased with about 21% during a ten-year period and that underground cables have increased with 28% during the same period. The results show that collisions with power lines have decreased more than electrocutions and this may imply that there are still many places where birds are at risk of being electrocuted.
Highlights
Birds have been subject to anthropogenic mortality in many ways for a long time. One of these human induced mortality factors is caused by power line constructions, both through collisions and electrocutions, and it has since many years been highlighted as a conservation issue in North America, Europe and South Africa (e.g. Scott et al 1972, Andersen-Harild & Bloch 1973, Bevanger 1994, Loss et al 2014)
It has been claimed that the expected growth of the energy demand globally in the future will result in an extension of power lines in parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America and that this in turn will increase the bird mortality (Bernardino et al 2018)
This study was later followed up by an investigation of recoveries reported during the period 1960–1999 (Fransson & Stolt 2000) where it was found that the increase levelled off and no increase in the frequency of recoveries caused by collisions or electro cutions was found during the 1990s
Summary
Birds have been subject to anthropogenic mortality in many ways for a long time. One of these human induced mortality factors is caused by power line constructions, both through collisions and electrocutions, and it has since many years been highlighted as a conservation issue in North America, Europe and South Africa (e.g. Scott et al 1972, Andersen-Harild & Bloch 1973, Bevanger 1994, Loss et al 2014). Birds have been subject to anthropogenic mortality in many ways for a long time One of these human induced mortality factors is caused by power line constructions, both through collisions and electrocutions, and it has since many years been highlighted as a conservation issue in North America, Europe and South Africa An investigation of the occurrence of collisions and electrocutions at power lines was conducted in Sweden in 1985 by using recoveries of ringed birds reported during the period 1960–1985 (Stolt et al 1986, Stolt & Fransson 1987). This study was later followed up by an investigation of recoveries reported during the period 1960–1999 (Fransson & Stolt 2000) where it was found that the increase levelled off and no increase in the frequency of recoveries caused by collisions or electro cutions was found during the 1990s. We have investigated the finding circumstances in birds of four species where dead birds were sent to the museum during this period
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