Abstract

Overview

Understanding how wildlife interacts with human-made structures like power lines is critical for effective environmental management and species conservation. This study focuses on the Bonelli's eagle, a territorial raptor, exploring how individuals vary in their behavior and space use around power lines.

Findings

• At a population level, Bonelli's eagles intensify their space use within 1,000 meters of power lines, indicating an attraction effect.
• On an individual level, variability exists. Some eagles follow the general population trend while others decrease their space use near power lines.
• The differences in eagle responses are not linked to gender but to characteristics of the power grid, such as the density of transmission lines and pylons.

Conclusion

Individual responses to power lines are complex and influenced by several potentially interrelated factors, including the local density of power infrastructure, availability of prey, and natural perching sites. Critically, eagles attracted to power lines may face higher risks of mortality due to electrocution and collision. Understanding these individual differences is crucial in assessing the impact of anthropogenic structures and implementing targeted conservation strategies.