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Home ยป Bird Collisions with a Power Transmission Line and Their Relation to Botulism at a Montana Wetland
Bird Collisions with a Power Transmission Line and Their Relation to Botulism at a Montana Wetland
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication: | 1982 |
| Authors: | Malcolm, JM |
| Journal: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Volume: | 10 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| Date Published: | 1982 |
| ISBN Number: | 00917648 |
| Keywords: | Podiceps, Podiceps nigricollis, Podicipedidae |
| Abstract: | At least 4,100 birds were killed from 1 May 1980 through 29 September 1981 by flying into a 230-kv, double-circuited power transmission line over a large wetland in south central Montana. Bird searches yielded 3,218 dead birds of 55 species with externally obvious injuries indicating collisions with the line or supporting structures. Eared grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) were the primary victims comprising 29% of the line collision casualties. Ducks of 14 species accounted for 44%. Botulism killed approximately 5,200 birds on the study area in 1980 and 200 in 1981 (71% ducks). Limited tests indicated that birds striking the power transmission line were not afflicted with botulism, but botulism toxin was subsequently isolated in maggots collected from the decomposing carcasses of line collision casualties. Power transmission line collisions appear to aggravate botulism losses on this wetland, particularly if bird casualty carcasses are not cleaned up frequently. |
| URL: | http://www.jstor.org/stable/3781197 |
| Short Title: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical):
Ed Baker,
Katherine Bouton
Alice Heaton
Dimitris Koureas,
Laurence Livermore,
Dave Roberts,
Simon Rycroft,
Ben Scott,
Vince Smith