‘We thought they would ignore us’: how humans are changing the way raptors behave
Experts call for tighter regulation as GPS tracking reveals how people’s behaviour affects the lives of some of the world’s largest birds
TL;DR
- GPS tracking devices are revealing how raptors are affected by human activity, including changes in hunting patterns and increased travel distances on public holidays.
- Human disturbance can cause birds to abandon breeding and struggle to hunt, necessitating longer foraging trips.
- Collisions with power lines and electrocution are significant causes of mortality for raptors, with thousands dying annually in Spain alone.
- Renewable energy developments, such as wind turbines, are emerging as new threats, causing vulture deaths.
- Deforestation and habitat loss continue to impact raptor populations, although some species adapt to agricultural or urban environments.
- Conservation efforts include retrofitting power pylons to be more bird-friendly and improving planning for renewable energy installations.
- Electricity companies are motivated to address these issues as bird-related incidents can cause power outages.