Study

Avian Behavior and Mortality at Power Lines in Coastal South Carolina

  • Published source details Savereno A.J., Savereno L.A., Boettcher R. & Haig S.M. (1996) Avian Behavior and Mortality at Power Lines in Coastal South Carolina. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 24, 636-648.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Mark power lines to reduce incidental bird mortality

Action Link
Bird Conservation
  1. Mark power lines to reduce incidental bird mortality

    A paired sites study in 1991-4 in coastal wetlands in South Carolina, USA (Savereno et al. 1996), found a 53% reduction in collision mortalities at a 3.9 km span of 115 kV transmission lines where the static wires were marked, compared to a 1.2 km unmarked span. A higher proportion of birds approaching marked wires at the most dangerous height (between transmission wires and earth wire) reacted to them, compared to unmarked wires (98% of 9,819 flocks vs. 89% of 4,209 flocks respectively) and fewer crossed the wires at this height (4% vs. 24%). However, overall, a higher percentage of birds reacted to lines at unmarked spans (40% of 17,391 flocks vs. 34% of 64,512 flocks). The experimental span was marked with yellow aviation balls (30 cm in diameter with a vertical black stripe) at 61 m intervals, staggered to give the appearance of a 30.5 m spacing.

     

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