Add perches to electricity pylons to reduce electrocution

Overall effectiveness category Unlikely to be beneficial
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

0%
Certainty

42%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Raptors and other large birds can become electrocuted when they perch on pylons and touch multiple wires with their wings. Adding perches to pylons may therefore reduce mortality by allowing birds to land safely away from the wires.

Study locations

Key messages

A single before-and-after study in Spain found that adding perches did not reduce electrocutions of Spanish imperial eagles Aquila adalberti.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A before-and-after study in a wetland national park in Andalusia, Spain (Ferrer & Hiraldo 1991), found that adding perches to 80 electricity pylons did not reduce electrocution rates of Spanish imperial eagle Aquila adalberti. This study discusses other eagle management techniques, described in ‘Bury or isolate power lines’, ‘Use signs and access restrictions to reduce disturbance at nest sites’, ‘Foster eggs or chicks with wild conspecifics’ and ‘Remove/treat endoparasites’.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Ferrer M. & Hiraldo F. (1991) Evaluation of management techniques for the Spanish imperial eagle. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 19, 436-442.

Please cite as:

Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Bird Conservation. Pages 137-281 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

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Remove earth wires to reduce incidental bird mortality Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	2	Synopsis Link
Use raptor models to deter birds and so reduce incidental mortality Action Link	Unlikely to be beneficial	1	Synopsis Link
Insulate power pylons to prevent electrocution Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	1	Synopsis Link