Mitigation techniques to reduce avian electrocution rates
ABSTRACT From August 2013, we undertook a 1‐year trial of mitigation techniques at an electricity power line in the Mongolian steppe with a high avian electrocution rate. We examined 2 mitigation methods at phase‐1 conductors on the top of power poles (i.e., reconfiguration of the insulator mount an...
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Wiley
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.990 |
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| author | Andrew Dixon MD Lutfor Rahman Batbayar Galtbalt Batbayar Bold Batmunkh Davaasuren Nyambayar Batbayar Batkhuu Sugarsaikhan |
| author_facet | Andrew Dixon MD Lutfor Rahman Batbayar Galtbalt Batbayar Bold Batmunkh Davaasuren Nyambayar Batbayar Batkhuu Sugarsaikhan |
| author_sort | Andrew Dixon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT From August 2013, we undertook a 1‐year trial of mitigation techniques at an electricity power line in the Mongolian steppe with a high avian electrocution rate. We examined 2 mitigation methods at phase‐1 conductors on the top of power poles (i.e., reconfiguration of the insulator mount and insulation covers on the conductor wire) and 3 mitigation methods at phase‐2 and 3 conductors on pole cross‐arms (i.e., perch deflector brushes, rotating‐mirror perch deterrents, and insulation covers on the conductor wires). The perch management techniques selected for the trial are currently widely adopted by power line managers in Mongolia. In comparison with the control, with no mitigation, electrocution rates were reduced both by the reconfiguration of insulator mounts and insulation of conductor wires at phase‐1, though the reduction was greater for the former—73% mean reduction for reconfigured mounts and 59% for insulation covers. Electrocution rates were reduced by the placement of rotating‐mirrors and insulation of conductor wires at phases 2 and 3, with the reduction being greater for the former—91% mean reduction for mirrors and 66% for insulation covers. Deployment of metal perch deflector brushes at phases 2 and 3 had no effect on electrocution rates and should not be used as mitigation. Most electrocutions occurred at phase 1 on the top of the pole, indicating that mitigation should be prioritized at this phase. In terms of cost and efficacy, reconfigured mounts represented the best option as a permanent fix at phase 1. At phases on cross‐arms, the relative merits of mirrors and insulation covers need to be assessed over a longer period, and these temporary mitigation measures should be compared with alternative permanent fixes. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2d2a4bd2089f4661a6bca2cdb21d0c35 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-2d2a4bd2089f4661a6bca2cdb21d0c352025-08-20T02:36:19ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402019-09-0143347648310.1002/wsb.990Mitigation techniques to reduce avian electrocution ratesAndrew Dixon0MD Lutfor Rahman1Batbayar Galtbalt2Batbayar Bold3Batmunkh Davaasuren4Nyambayar Batbayar5Batkhuu Sugarsaikhan6Emirates Falconers' Club P.O. Box 47716, Al Mamoura Building (A), Muroor Road Abu Dhabi United Arab EmiratesInternational Wildlife Consultants Ltd. P.O. Box 19, Carmarthen, SA33 5YL, United Kingdom; Environment-Agency Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 45553, Al Mamoura Building (A), Muroor Road Abu Dhabi United Arab EmiratesWildlife Science and Conservation Center B‐802 Union Building, Sukhbaatar District Ulaanbaatar 14210 MongoliaWildlife Science and Conservation Center B‐802 Union Building, Sukhbaatar District Ulaanbaatar 14210 MongoliaWildlife Science and Conservation Center B‐802 Union Building, Sukhbaatar District Ulaanbaatar 14210 MongoliaWildlife Science and Conservation Center B‐802 Union Building, Sukhbaatar District Ulaanbaatar 14210 MongoliaEastern Energy Company Baruun‐Urt Sukhbaatar MongoliaABSTRACT From August 2013, we undertook a 1‐year trial of mitigation techniques at an electricity power line in the Mongolian steppe with a high avian electrocution rate. We examined 2 mitigation methods at phase‐1 conductors on the top of power poles (i.e., reconfiguration of the insulator mount and insulation covers on the conductor wire) and 3 mitigation methods at phase‐2 and 3 conductors on pole cross‐arms (i.e., perch deflector brushes, rotating‐mirror perch deterrents, and insulation covers on the conductor wires). The perch management techniques selected for the trial are currently widely adopted by power line managers in Mongolia. In comparison with the control, with no mitigation, electrocution rates were reduced both by the reconfiguration of insulator mounts and insulation of conductor wires at phase‐1, though the reduction was greater for the former—73% mean reduction for reconfigured mounts and 59% for insulation covers. Electrocution rates were reduced by the placement of rotating‐mirrors and insulation of conductor wires at phases 2 and 3, with the reduction being greater for the former—91% mean reduction for mirrors and 66% for insulation covers. Deployment of metal perch deflector brushes at phases 2 and 3 had no effect on electrocution rates and should not be used as mitigation. Most electrocutions occurred at phase 1 on the top of the pole, indicating that mitigation should be prioritized at this phase. In terms of cost and efficacy, reconfigured mounts represented the best option as a permanent fix at phase 1. At phases on cross‐arms, the relative merits of mirrors and insulation covers need to be assessed over a longer period, and these temporary mitigation measures should be compared with alternative permanent fixes. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.990avian electrocutionbird of preydeterrentinsulationmitigationMongolia |
| spellingShingle | Andrew Dixon MD Lutfor Rahman Batbayar Galtbalt Batbayar Bold Batmunkh Davaasuren Nyambayar Batbayar Batkhuu Sugarsaikhan Mitigation techniques to reduce avian electrocution rates Wildlife Society Bulletin avian electrocution bird of prey deterrent insulation mitigation Mongolia |
| title | Mitigation techniques to reduce avian electrocution rates |
| title_full | Mitigation techniques to reduce avian electrocution rates |
| title_fullStr | Mitigation techniques to reduce avian electrocution rates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mitigation techniques to reduce avian electrocution rates |
| title_short | Mitigation techniques to reduce avian electrocution rates |
| title_sort | mitigation techniques to reduce avian electrocution rates |
| topic | avian electrocution bird of prey deterrent insulation mitigation Mongolia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.990 |
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