Power lines and birds: An overlooked threat in South America

2023 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 513

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2023

Study typereview

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Power lines and birds: An overlooked threat in South America Rebolo-Ifrán N, Plaza P, Pérez-García JM, Gamarra-Toledo V, Santander F, Lambertucci SA. Power lines and birds: An overlooked threat in South America. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation. 21(1):71-84. 2023. doi:10.1016/j.pecon.2022.10.005. Abstract Power lines endanger birds around the world, as a large number of them are killed every year through electrocutions and collisions. This problem can have severe consequences at population level, particularly for threatened species. While this threat has been widely studied in different parts of the world, information from South America is scarce. Here, we review information from scientific and grey literature on the collision and electrocution of birds on power lines from this sub-continent. We complement this information with novel data provided by a citizen science project, electrical companies and field monitoring records. Our results show that although in South America scientific and anecdotal information on this topic is scarce, data suggests that this threat is present in many areas of this sub-continent and affects several species, some of which are seriously threatened. However, information on the most affected species, the number of individuals impacted, the most dangerous geographical areas and the effectiveness of mitigation action is scarce and mainly anecdotal. This is worrying, because South America is a hot spot of biodiversity with many threatened and endemic bird species. We urge conservationists to evaluate this problem in more detail, define areas where it is important to avoid power line installation and establish priority areas for implementation of effective mitigation actions. Scientific evidence shows that dangerous power lines require retrofitting, but this knowledge should also be applied to the new energy facilities and the establishment of national regulations, which would undoubtedly reduce the impact of this infrastructure on wildlife. sciencedirect.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview

Effect directionharm

PopulationBirds in South America (including threatened species)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The review and supplemented data sources indicate that bird collisions and electrocutions on power lines occur in many areas of South America and affect multiple species, including some that are seriously threatened. The authors report that information on the most affected species, numbers of individuals impacted, the most dangerous areas, and mitigation effectiveness is scarce and mainly anecdotal.

Outcomes measured

Bird collisions with power lines
Bird electrocutions on power lines
Population-level impacts on threatened species
Effectiveness of mitigation actions (retrofitting, siting/avoidance, regulations)

Limitations

Scientific and anecdotal information from South America is described as scarce
Key details (most affected species, number of individuals impacted, highest-risk areas, mitigation effectiveness) are reported as scarce and mainly anecdotal

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "power lines",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Birds in South America (including threatened species)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Bird collisions with power lines",
    "Bird electrocutions on power lines",
    "Population-level impacts on threatened species",
    "Effectiveness of mitigation actions (retrofitting, siting/avoidance, regulations)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The review and supplemented data sources indicate that bird collisions and electrocutions on power lines occur in many areas of South America and affect multiple species, including some that are seriously threatened. The authors report that information on the most affected species, numbers of individuals impacted, the most dangerous areas, and mitigation effectiveness is scarce and mainly anecdotal.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Scientific and anecdotal information from South America is described as scarce",
    "Key details (most affected species, number of individuals impacted, highest-risk areas, mitigation effectiveness) are reported as scarce and mainly anecdotal"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "power lines",
    "birds",
    "electrocution",
    "collision",
    "South America",
    "threatened species",
    "mitigation",
    "retrofitting",
    "citizen science",
    "field monitoring",
    "electrical companies"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "power-lines-wildlife",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Focuses on bird collisions/electrocutions associated with power lines and mitigation/regulation needs in South America."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2022.10.005
PubMed: Not supplied

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