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Eagle Owl Bubo bubo and power line interactions in the Italian Alps

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2002

Diego Rubolini
Affiliation:
Laboratorio di Eco-Etologia, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Università di Pavia, p.zza Botta 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
Enrico Bassi
Affiliation:
Laboratorio di Eco-Etologia, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Università di Pavia, p.zza Botta 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
Giuseppe Bogliani
Affiliation:
Laboratorio di Eco-Etologia, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Università di Pavia, p.zza Botta 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
Paolo Galeotti
Affiliation:
Laboratorio di Eco-Etologia, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Università di Pavia, p.zza Botta 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
Roberto Garavaglia
Affiliation:
CESI, Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano G. Motta, via Rubattino 54, I-20134 Milan, Italy
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Abstract

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We reviewed the importance of power lines as a cause of mortality for Eagle Owl in the Italian Alps. Power lines were the most important cause of unnatural mortality for this species, accounting for over 50% of recorded casualties. The number of reported dead owls tended to be higher in September–October, suggesting an influence on juvenile dispersal. Furthermore, the significance of power lines as a cause of mortality increased over time, being lower in the 1960–1980 period than in 1981–1999. Electrocution, which usually takes place at medium-voltage (15–30 kV) electricity poles, accounted for the vast majority of casualties. We suggest some protective measures that may be put into practice in the proximity of Eagle Owl breeding territories.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© BirdLife International 2001