Anthropogenic Material in Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) Nests Causes Voltage Drops in Electrical Transmission Lines in Argentina

GARCÍA-URDANGARIN, BEÑAT; MARTÍNEZ-MIRANZO, BEATRIZ; GALLEGO, DIEGO; LEKUONA, AINHOA; SARASOLA, JOSÉ HERNÁN

JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH

RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

Año: 2023 vol. 58 p. 1 - 5

0892-1016

Electricity is an essential service necessary for nearlyall modern human endeavors, including health careand transportation systems, communication and securityfacilities (Chang et al. 2007), and the daily workand personal lives of billions of people worldwide.Power outages or voltage drops on power lines disruptelectric systems, compromising fundamental humanactivities, and frequently costing thousands to millionsof dollars depending on the power line involved andthe duration of the interruption (Kariuki and Allan1996, Hunting 2002, LaCommare and Eto 2006).These events are often caused by birds, which are thesecond leading cause of power outages and voltagedrops, following extreme climate conditions (Hamiltonet al. 1989, Bevanger 1994, Fritts 2002, Burgioet al. 2014, Reed et al. 2014, Guil et al. 2018). Forexample, in South Florida in 2001, Monk Parakeet(Myiopsitta monachus) nests caused 198 outagesaffecting 10,000 consumers (Goodrich-Mahoneyet al. 2008).