Abstract
This study documents the mortality of flamingos due to collision with electric wires in the state of Gujarat, India. The wetlands of Gujarat were surveyed from 2002 to 2005 as a part of ecological studies on flamingos. Incidences of collision of flamingos with overhead electric wires were recorded at breeding and feeding sites. The numbers of victim birds were counted and high risk sites were identified based on reported incidences of collision and the period of inundation of the sites below electric lines. Of the 76 deaths recorded, Lesser Flamingos Phoeniconaias minor (46%) and Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus (54%) accounted almost equally. The effects of collision on the population of flamingos and the management options to minimize collision of flamingos and other water birds with electric lines in sensitive habitats are discussed.
Highlights
Power lines, telephone lines and other utility structures have become an inseparable part of our modern life
The main objective of this paper is to identify the sites of flamingo collision with electric lines and telephone lines in Gujarat, India and to discuss possible solutions to mitigate the same
On 13 December 2003, two Greater Flamingos and three Lesser Flamingos were recorded dead after collision with telephone wires in the northeastern part of the Great Rann of Kachchh, between Tuta and Boria beyt (Table 1)
Summary
Telephone lines and other utility structures have become an inseparable part of our modern life. Establishment and coverage of utility structures has increased with the development of modern and advanced life. The interaction of birds with utility structures has come into the picture. Birds use power lines and telephone lines for roosting, nest building and prey surveillance (Bevanger 1990). Power lines passing through areas with a high concentration of birds e.g. roosting and feeding places, create an extremely high collision risk and this is one of the important factors negatively affecting the bird population. Wirestrikes can occur at any place where the combination of overhead wires and birds exists (Bevanger 1990)
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