A 2019 study found that, since 1970, the North American bird population had decreased by 30%, which equates to a loss of nearly 3 billion birds (Cornell). The causes of this population decrease range from habitat loss, use of pesticides, climate change, and even cats (WIRED/CBC News)! Another cause is power lines, killing an estimated 64 million birds annually (DataZone). However, while most would assume that the reason behind these deaths is electrocution, it turns out that there might be something else at play.
On August 1st, 2023, wildlife biologist Eve Thomason published a study in the open access journal, iScience, stating that the leading cause of avian deaths near power lines was illegal shootings, not electrocution (New York Times). After working with a power company to conduct an “avian risk assessment”, Thomason noticed many dead birds near supposedly “safe” power lines (Treehugger). She soon realized that these birds had been shot and began to gather more research on the topic. From 2019 to 2022, Thomason and her team looked for bird carcasses across four states, finding a total of 410 birds (New York Times). The team managed to deduce the cause of death of 175 of these birds, with 66% dying from gunshots (New York Times). Among these birds, the majority were either ravens or raptors-a group that includes hawks, eagles, and falcons- types of birds that are illegal to hunt.
Despite being published recently, the study is already benefitting governments by saving them both money and resources. Birds get electrocuted when multiple parts of their body “come in contact with either two wires or a wire and ground source” (National Wildlife Federation). These accidents often lead to power outages or wildfires, incentivizing power companies to install safeguards to prevent the frequency of these disasters (Treehugger). The government invests a lot of money into these safeguards, which cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars. If it turns out that illegal shooting was the primary cause of avian deaths near power lines, governments can redirect their efforts. As Georgetown University ornithologist Pete Marra tells the New York Times, “What’s essential in order to stop the decline of birds is to understand what’s causing the decline of birds.”
Really great work on the edits! Last thing is just to specify some of the data by defining what the sample was (left a comment there).
Sources:
– Nearly 3 Billion Birds Gone | Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
– Bird Populations Are in Meltdown | WIRED
– 9 leading causes of bird deaths in Canada | CBC News
– Collisions and electrocutions pose real threats for large-bodied, migratory bird species
– Illegal shooting is now a leading cause of death of birds along power lines in the western USA: iScience (cell.com)
– A Shocking Toll (nwf.org)
– Electrocution Isn’t the Main Thing Killing Birds Along Power Lines – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
– The Main Thing Killing Birds Near Power Lines Isn’t Electrocution (treehugger.com)
On August 1st, 2023, wildlife biologist Eve Thomason published a study in the open access journal, iScience, stating that the leading cause of avian deaths near power lines was illegal shootings, not electrocution (New York Times). After working with a power company to conduct an “avian risk assessment”, Thomason noticed many dead birds near supposedly “safe” power lines (Treehugger). She soon realized that these birds had been shot and began to gather more research on the topic. From 2019 to 2022, Thomason and her team looked for bird carcasses across four states, finding a total of 410 birds (New York Times). The team managed to deduce the cause of death of 175 of these birds, with 66% dying from gunshots (New York Times). Among these birds, the majority were either ravens or raptors-a group that includes hawks, eagles, and falcons- types of birds that are illegal to hunt.
Despite being published recently, the study is already benefitting governments by saving them both money and resources. Birds get electrocuted when multiple parts of their body “come in contact with either two wires or a wire and ground source” (National Wildlife Federation). These accidents often lead to power outages or wildfires, incentivizing power companies to install safeguards to prevent the frequency of these disasters (Treehugger). The government invests a lot of money into these safeguards, which cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars. If it turns out that illegal shooting was the primary cause of avian deaths near power lines, governments can redirect their efforts. As Georgetown University ornithologist Pete Marra tells the New York Times, “What’s essential in order to stop the decline of birds is to understand what’s causing the decline of birds.”
Really great work on the edits! Last thing is just to specify some of the data by defining what the sample was (left a comment there).
Sources:
– Nearly 3 Billion Birds Gone | Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
– Bird Populations Are in Meltdown | WIRED
– 9 leading causes of bird deaths in Canada | CBC News
– Collisions and electrocutions pose real threats for large-bodied, migratory bird species
– Illegal shooting is now a leading cause of death of birds along power lines in the western USA: iScience (cell.com)
– A Shocking Toll (nwf.org)
– Electrocution Isn’t the Main Thing Killing Birds Along Power Lines – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
– The Main Thing Killing Birds Near Power Lines Isn’t Electrocution (treehugger.com)
