Electrocutions of Bids on Power Lines in the Altai Kray (Russia) in 2021

In September 2021, 126 km of 6-10 kV power lines were surveyed in Altai Kray, Russia. The survey encompassed different types of habitat from pine forests to the foothills of Altai mountains. Out of 126 km, 27.94 km of power lines were equipped with bird-protection devices to prevent bird death from electrocution. We uncovered 515 cases of bird death on unsafe lines. Raptors make 21% and endangered species – 1.94%. The density of dead birds was equal to 5.6 ind./km of non-safe power lines, and of raptors – 1.18 ind./km. The observed damage to the ecosystem was estimated as 6.1 million of Rub (equal to $83 350 or € 73 600), and the damage calculated per one electric pole was 3 925 Rub. The estimation of the death rate of birds on the observed length of power lines through the whole migration and breeding seasons makes 8.63 ind./km. Approximation to the presumptive total length of bird unsafe power lines in the Altai Kray makes 50 700 birds possibly die every year in the region from April till October. The highest level of bird mortality was observed on power lines stretching through open undisturbed habitats (i.e. steppe biotope). We also noted 2.9 times higher mortality on push brace poles compared with intermediate ones for all species, and 4.9 times higher for raptors only.

Possible environmental and meteorological factors underlying scaly-breasted munia Lonchura punctulata (L.) mass mortality events in Southeast Asia urban and rural areas in September 2021

Mass bird mortality is a rare event. This event could be happened and could be a combination of numerous factors. It could be something that's still completely unknown to us. In September 2021 in SE Asia, there were 2 mass bird mortality events of Lonchura punctulata. The first event happens on 9 September in rural area at 08.00 AM and second happens on 14 September at 12.00 PM in urban area. The results show that precipitation combined with the wind gust might be correlated with mass mortality. The results showed precipitation factors have contributed 71.18% (R2 = 0.714, P = 0.008) to the mortality and followed by wind gust with 28.81% contribution (R2 = 0.41, P = 0.08). The meteorological parameter was not the only factors affecting the mortality events. The landscapes in urban and rural areas have experienced fragmentations. Urban areas have severe fragmentation of vegetation covers with remaining vegetation covers were only 17.4% and patch density indices of 0.29. In contrast rural areas still have higher vegetation cover remnants about 21.12% and patch density indices of 0.93. Then severe meteorological events combined with the fragmented habitats of L. punctulata may explain the mass mortality of this bird species.

Avian-power line interactions in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia: are mitigation actions effective?

Background Electrocution and collisions on power lines are among the leading causes of non-natural mortality for birds. Power lines are exponentially increasing, particularly in developing countries, but mitigation strategies to prevent bird mortality are questionable. Mongolia combines a recently increased power line network, an abundant raptor population, a dangerous crossarm configuration and a habitat with no natural perches, producing many bird-power line interactions. Our aim is to assess the bird mortality caused by power lines in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, to determine the factors increasing the risk of bird electrocution, and to evaluate the effectiveness of used retrofitting measures. Methods In July 2019 we covered 132.9 km of 15 kV power lines checking 1092 poles. We also conducted bird transects to record raptor and corvid richness and abundance, to assess species vulnerability to electrocution. Results We recorded 76 electrocuted birds of 7 species. Electrocution rate was 6.96 birds/100 poles. The most affected species were Common Raven (Corvus corax) and Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius), highlighting the electrocution of 5 endangered Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug). By contrast, we only recorded 8 individuals of 5 species colliding with wires, the most affected being Pallas’s Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus). About 76.1% of sampled poles had some mitigation measure. Of these, 96.6% were brush perch deflectors and 3.4% rotating-mirrors perch deterrents. We found differences in electrocution rates among crossarm configurations, with the strain insulator with one jumper being the most lethal. Additionally, we found no correlation between bird abundance and electrocution rates, suggesting that some species are more sensitive to electrocution. Although no differences in total bird electrocution rates were detected between poles with and without perch deterrents, when bird size is considered, deterrents reduced the mortality rate of small birds, while they were ineffective for medium-sized birds. Conclusions Despite the widespread use of perch deterrents in the Mongolian power line network, there is still an alarming electrocution rate. This strategy is ineffective and some mechanisms, such as brush perch deflectors, may increase the electrocution rate for some medium-sized birds. Finally, we propose strategies to minimize the avian electrocution rate in the Gobi Desert.

Pursuit of ‘sustainable’ development may contribute to the vulture crisis in East Africa

Summary The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aim to improve livelihoods and maintain functioning ecosystems, and include the provision of electricity and the prevention of desertification. We show that the pursuit of those two goals can lead to developments that put critical ecosystem functions at risk. Vultures are scavengers that provide sanitary ecosystem services, but their populations across Africa are declining due to poisoning, electrocution, and collision with power infrastructure. The extent to which the pursuit of sustainable development threatens vultures in Africa is unclear. We surveyed 227 km of powerlines in Ethiopia, which revealed bird mortality (0.15 vulture carcasses / km) at power infrastructure constructed under a National Electrification Programme to provide universal electricity access by 2025. We also interviewed 190 local pastoralists in 10 areas about livelihood challenges, which revealed that the bush Prosopis juliflora, which was originally introduced to prevent desertification but then invaded north-eastern Ethiopia, increased livestock predation and motivated the use of poison to control predators. Actions to increase universal access to electricity and to reduce desertification therefore have undesired side-effects that increase vulture mortality through electrocution and poisoning. To avoid negatively affecting local vulture populations and the services they provide, we urge governments to use infrastructure designs that minimise the risk of electrocution and assist pastoralists to protect their livestock and reduce the risk of poisoning to vultures and other wildlife.

Electric infrastructure poses a significant threat at congregation sites of the globally threatened Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis in Saudi Arabia

Summary Saudi Arabia is the fastest growing electricity consumer in the Middle East, with a rapidly expanding network of powerlines. Bird mortality through electrocution and collision has been recorded in the country, but so far there is little information as to how much the electricity infrastructure affects globally threatened raptor populations that migrate to Saudi Arabia. In 2019, the world’s largest wintering congregation of Steppe Eagles Aquila nipalensis was discovered near a rubbish dump in central Saudi Arabia. We evaluated whether powerlines in the vicinity of this, and another congregation site, caused mortality of large birds. In November 2019, we surveyed powerlines within 6 km of two focal rubbish dumps at Al Qunfudhah (12.4 km) and Ushaiqer (2 km). We found 52 carcasses of five species, of which 85% were Steppe Eagles. Based on the age of these carcasses, we coarsely extrapolate that 14.4 km of powerlines near these two congregation sites may kill 94–240 Steppe Eagles per winter, representing up to 0.3% of their global population. We call for the urgent safeguarding of powerlines that cause mortality near known Steppe Eagle congregation sites, and the adoption and implementation of regulations that ensure that future infrastructure is constructed with designs that are safe for birds.

Pathogenesis of Two Western Mediterranean West Nile Virus Lineage 1 Isolates in Experimentally Infected Red-Legged Partridges (Alectoris rufa)

West Nile virus (WNV) is the most widespread flavivirus in the world with a wide vertebrate host range. Its geographic expansion and activity continue to increase with important human and equine outbreaks and local bird mortality. In a previous experiment, we demonstrated the susceptibility of 7-week-old red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) to Mediterranean WNV isolates Morocco/2003 and Spain/2007, which varied in virulence for this gallinaceous species. Here we study the pathogenesis of the infection with these two strains to explain the different course of infection and mortality. Day six post-inoculation was critical in the course of infection, with the highest viral load in tissues, the most widespread virus antigen, and more severe lesions. The most affected organs were the heart, liver, and spleen. Comparing infections with Morocco/2003 and Spain/2007, differences were observed in the viral load, virus antigen distribution, and lesion nature and severity. A more acute and marked inflammatory reaction (characterized by participation of microglia and CD3+ T cells) as well as neuronal necrosis in the brain were observed in partridges infected with Morocco/2003 as compared to those infected with Spain/2007. This suggests a higher neurovirulence of Morocco/2003, probably related to one or more specific molecular determinants of virulence different from Spain/2007.

Drivers of fatal bird collisions in an urban center

Millions of nocturnally migrating birds die each year from collisions with built structures, especially brightly illuminated buildings and communication towers. Reducing this source of mortality requires knowledge of important behavioral, meteorological, and anthropogenic factors, yet we lack an understanding of the interacting roles of migration, artificial lighting, and weather conditions in causing fatal bird collisions. Using two decades of collision surveys and concurrent weather and migration measures, we model numbers of collisions occurring at a large urban building in Chicago. We find that the magnitude of nocturnal bird migration, building light output, and wind conditions are the most important predictors of fatal collisions. The greatest mortality occurred when the building was brightly lit during large nocturnal migration events and when winds concentrated birds along the Chicago lakeshore. We estimate that halving lighted window area decreases collision counts by 11× in spring and 6× in fall. Bird mortality could be reduced by ∼60% at this site by decreasing lighted window area to minimum levels historically recorded. Our study provides strong support for a relationship between nocturnal migration magnitude and urban bird mortality, mediated by light pollution and local atmospheric conditions. Although our research focuses on a single site, our findings have global implications for reducing or eliminating a critically important cause of bird mortality.