RT Journal Article
T1 Testing for errors in estimating bird mortality rates at wind farms and power lines
A1 Farfán-Aguilar, Miguel Ángel
A1 Duarte, Jesús
A1 Fa, Julia E.
A1 Real-Giménez, Raimundo
A1 Vargas-Yañez, Juan Mario
K1 Aves - Mortalidad
K1 Líneas eléctricas aéreas - Efectos fisiológicos
AB Wind power, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is increasingly common, and is expanding worldwide. Wind farms cause mortality of flying animals through collision with moving rotor blades, and from electrocution on associated power lines. Avian mortality rates have been estimated from birds collected under turbines over varying time intervals. However, without adequate and frequent monitoring, dead birds may be removed by scavengers and thus cause an underestimation of fatalities. In this paper, we tested experimentally for possible errors arising in avian mortality caused by the removal of carcasses by scavengers. At two different wind farms and associated power lines in southern Spain, we placed pigeon and quail carcasses to determine their disappearancerate. All dead pigeons were radio-tagged to estimate distances taken by scavengers. We found significant differences in carcass disappearance rates of pigeons and quails, and between wind farms and power lines but not between habitats. All quails and 45% of pigeon carcasses had disappeared by the third and fourteenth day, respectively. Less than half (40%) of the carcasses werefound < 100 m from where they were deposited. While scavenging losses may vary according to the location of the wind farm or power line, here we propose a method to estimate correctly the number of fatalities at any wind farm and power line. Using this method, we can improve our understanding of the real impact of wind structures on adjacent bird communities, and adopt appropriate measures to ensure their conservation.
PB CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
YR 2017
FD 2017
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10630/29723
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10630/29723
LA eng
NO Farfán, M. A., Duarte, J., Fa, J. E., Real, R. y Vargas, J. M. (2017). Testing for errors in estimating bird mortality rates at wind farms and power lines. Bird Conservation International, 27(3): 431-439. doi:10.1017/S0959270916000460
NO Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Spanish National Parks Network, project 1098/2014
DS RIUMA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Málaga
RD 20 ene 2026