Warning: High Voltage

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted June 19, 2010757 views8 comments

This poor hawk was flying back and forth repeatedly around this power pole last fall, calling often.

When I walked up to take a closer look, I found it's mate dead on the ground below the tower. After the required reporting to Fish and Wildlife services, I did some web searches on the problem, and found it very common.

Raptor mortality from electrocution is a serious issue. There are many reports and studies in the literature, and hundreds of deaths in the US every year - as well as all other countri.

Electrocutions are easily mitigated by simple protectors on the power towers, or lengthened crossbeams to provide safe landing places.

D300
1/1000 sec, f/5
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: -1
ISO: 250
AF mode: AF-C
White balance: AUTO
Flash: Off

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on June 22, 2010 at 7:53 PM

Thanks for bringing attention to this awful problem. It always frightens me to see an Osprey making a big fat nest on top of some high voltage lines. I think what really helps this is the inclusion of "high voltage" on the actual post.

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on June 23, 2010 at 2:06 AM

How poignant. Thank you, Sandy. Once again the death-dealing power of human arrogance. I hope the hawk survives its mourning... Was there a nest and chicks? All the sadder, if so…

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 23, 2010 at 2:15 AM

No, thankfully no nest or chicks. I hope he/she finds another mate.
Very sad, for sure.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 23, 2010 at 12:06 PM

Congrats on your pick and thanks for bringing attention to this issue Sandy

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by kayes on June 24, 2010 at 7:52 PM

Congrats on the EP

Registered on February 23, 2010, 51 Posts, 98 Comments

Comment posted by Mervyn Dublin on June 26, 2010 at 1:37 PM

Cool picture Sandy. Lucky nothing happen to the hawk!!

Registered on September 23, 2009, 42 Posts, 110 Comments

Comment posted by Colin Pickett on June 28, 2010 at 12:46 PM

Hi Sandy
Well done on your EP

I the UK our isolaters hang down under the cross beams which makes them more friendly for wildlife.
Nice one

Registered on December 30, 2004, 23 Posts, 156 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on June 30, 2010 at 1:31 AM

Nancy apprenticed under Morley Nelson, the man who developed those protectors for Idaho Power, back in the 1970s. Morley was a pioneer in filming raptors in flight, an awesome bird rehabber before it was really recognized, and a brilliant falconer. it infuriated him that the big transmission outfits wouldn't put protectors in place.

Good capture, Sandy. Sad story.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments