Avian electrocution and power line collision in Putalibazar Municipality of Syangja District, Nepal
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Department of Zoology
Abstract
Avian fauna refers to the different species of flying as well as flightless birds. A well developed
adaptation feature of avian species is that they have flight in short and long
distances, and perch at different objects including twigs and power line. In spite of these
adaptations, avian species are suffered from various threats due to different environmental
and anthropogenic factors which may cause significant decline in their population.
Among the various anthropogenic factors, the power lines become threats to the avian
species mainly due to electrocution and power line collisions. However, the data on this
threat on avian species are scarce, therefore, this study collected data on the highly
affected bird species due to the power lines in the Putalibazar Municipality of Syangja
district from November 2021 to May 2022 along the distribution line which runs through
the agricultural land or forest or settlement area or river basin. Direct observation and
questionnaire methods were used to collect data on power lines related avian mortality
under 10 m circular radius around the poles in every 300 m interval. For the collision
data, the carcasses of birds were sampled along the distribution line. Out of 43 avian
victims, 26 were found dead due to electrocution in 15% (n = 18) of the plots. Among the
affected avian species the House Crow (Corvus splendens) and Rock Pigeon (Columba
livia) were the major victims. Seventeen individuals of six different species were
recorded for collision out of which Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) and House Swift
(Apus nipalensis) were the major victims. The bird’s abundance, distance to agricultural
lands and settlement were found to have a significant association with the power lines
related avian mortality. Based on these data the policy makers can develop avian friendly
power lines infrastructures and planning for their long term conservation.