Midflight collisions with power lines impact 12 of the world’s 15 crane species, including 1 critically endangered species, 3 endangered species, and 5 vulnerable species. Power lines can be fitted with line markers to increase the visibility of wires to reduce collisions, but collisions can persist on marked power lines. For example, hundreds of Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) die annually in collisions with marked power lines at the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary (Rowe), a major migratory stopover location near Gibbon, Nebraska. Mitigation success has been limited because most collisions occur nocturnally when line markers are least visible, even though roughly half the line markers present include glow-in-the-dark stickers. To evaluate an alternative mitigation strategy at Rowe, we used a randomized design to test collision mitigation effects of a pole-mounted near-ultraviolet light (UV-A; 380–395 nm) Avian Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) to illuminate a 258-m power line span crossing the Central Platte River. We observed 48 Sandhill Crane collisions and 217 dangerous flights of Sandhill Crane flocks during 19 nights when the ACAS was off, but just 1 collision and 39 dangerous flights during 19 nights when the ACAS was on. Thus, we documented a 98% decrease in collisions and an 82% decrease in dangerous flights when the ACAS was on. We also found a 32% decrease in the number of evasive maneuvers initiated within 25 m of the power line along the river, and a 71% increase in the number of evasive maneuvers initiated beyond 25 m when the ACAS was on. Sandhill Cranes reacted sooner and with more control, and experienced substantially fewer collisions, when the ACAS was on. Installation of the ACAS on other high-risk spans, and perhaps on other anthropogenic obstacles where birds collide, may offer a new solution to a long-running conservation dilemma.

Summary: Avian electrocutions are a global conservation problem. Power outages associated with electrocutions are problematic for electric utilities focused on delivering reliable electric power. We used contextual data, photographs, line voltage, outage type and assessments of power line components to quantify outage-causing avian electrocutions throughout each of Iran’s 31 provinces. We evaluated records of 222 avian-caused outages involving 235 electrocuted birds in 2018. Of these, 14.5% involved species of conservation concern, and a few (at least eight) sparked fires when the plumage of electrocuted birds ignited and fell into dry vegetation. Most avian-caused outages (96%) involved distribution voltages, and 91% involved phase-to-ground contacts attributable to grounded concrete pylons with grounded steel crossarms. These are the most common type of power line structure in Iran. Insulators were involved in 37% of outage-causing avian electrocutions, fused cutouts 29%, transformers 33%, and midspan collisions 1%. Given the numbers of these components in the electrical system, fused cutouts and transformers were involved in more outage-causing avian electrocutions than expected due to chance. The average body size of electrocuted birds was largest for incidents involving suspension insulators, smaller for birds electrocuted on other insulators, and smallest for electrocutions on fused cutouts and transformers. Given that most avian electrocutions do not cause outages and given the similarity across electric systems in the region, our findings likely indicate a much larger avian electrocution concern throughout the middle east. Retrofitting power line components to reduce avian contacts would reduce impacts to wildlife and improve the electrical system’s reliability, reduce costs associated with unplanned outages, and reduce risks associated power line ignitions of fires.

Electrocutions of birds on power structures is a global conservation concern that has not been thoroughly reported in all areas where it occurs. Here we provide information from citizen scientists describing 3,400 avian carcasses of at least 79 species found at the bases of 57,486 electrical pylons in Hungary. Of these carcasses, 3% were found at the bases of pylons retrofitted to reduce electrocution risk. On average, one carcass was found per 15 nonretrofitted pylons surveyed compared one carcass per 89 retrofitted pylons, an 83% difference in frequency. Electrocutions included 4 species of conservation concern in Hungary: Red-footed Falcons (Falco vespertinus), European Rollers (Coracias garrulous), Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug), and Eastern Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca). Only 3 of 104 (3%) electrocutions involving these species occurred on retrofitted pylons. Across birds of various sizes (small ≤25 cm long, medium 26–49 cm long, and large ≥50 cm long), differences in electrocution frequen... ABSTRACT (Hungarian) A madarakat érő áramütés egy globális természetvédelmi probléma, amelynek dokumentálása azonban nem minden területen történik meg, ahol a probléma előfordul. Ebben a cikkben önkéntesek bevonásával gyűjtött információkat mutatunk be minimum 79 madárfaj 3,400 teteméről, amelyek összesen 57,486 elektromos oszlop környezetében kerültek elő. A tetemek 3%-a olyan oszlopoknál volt, amelyeken már történtek madárvédelmi technikai beavatkozások. Átlagosan 15 felmért átalakítás nélküli oszlopra jutott egy tetem, míg az átalakított oszlopok esetében minden 89 oszlopra jutott egy áldozat, ami 83%-os gyakoriságbeli eltérést jelent. Az áramütés négy olyan fajt is érint, amelyek a magyar természetvédelem számára kiemelt fontosságúak, úgymint: a kék vércse (Falco vespertinus), a szalakóta (Coracias garrulus), a kerecsensólyom (Falco cherrug) és a parlagi sas (Aquila heliaca). Az ezeket a fajokat érintő 104 áramütés közül csak 3 eset (3%) történt átalakított oszlopokon. A madarak méretét tekintve (kics...

Avian electrocutions on power poles (hereafter, poles) are a global conservation concern, particularly for large-bodied species like Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). Retrofitting poles through increasing clearances (separation) between components, adding insulation to components, or adding redirection materials like perch discouragers reduces risk, but electrocutions may occur even on retrofitted poles. We evaluated 52 retrofitted poles where 56 birds, including 17 Golden Eagles, were electrocuted after retrofitting. We used burns on pole equipment and carcasses to identify precise pole-top locations where electrocutions occurred, and we identified three categories of retrofitting errors: product design, mitigation plan, and application. Product design errors (n = 9 poles, 6 Golden Eagles) occurred when products did not sufficiently cover energized equipment. Mitigation plan errors (n = 30 poles, 6 Golden Eagles) occurred when retrofitting plans did not include coverage of all energized compone... ELECTROCUCIONES DE AVES EN POSTES ELÉCTRICOS CORREGIDOS INCORRECTAMENTE Las electrocuciones de aves en postes eléctricos (de aquí en adelante, postes) son una causa de preocupación para la conservación a nivel mundial, particularmente para especies de gran tamaño como Aquila chrysaetos. La corrección de postes a través del aumento de la separación entre los componentes, la adición de aislamiento a los componentes, o la adición de materiales que ahuyenten a las aves tales como elementos que disuaden el posado, reducen el riesgo, pero las electrocuciones pueden ocurrir incluso en postes corregidos. Evaluamos 52 postes corregidos en los que 56 aves, incluyendo 17 individuos de A. chrysaetos, se electrocutaron tras su corrección. Utilizamos señales de quemaduras en el equipamiento de los postes y en los cadáveres para identificar de manera precisa el lugar del poste donde ocurrieron las electrocuciones, e identificamos tres categorías de errores de corrección: diseño del producto, plan de mitigación y aplicac...