Species-Specific Responses of Farmland Birds to Overhead Powerlines.

ABSTRACT: Displacement and attraction effects caused by transmission powerlines on bird species have been documented, but this topic remains underexplored in the scientific literature. Here, we evaluated the impact of transmission powerlines on bird species typical of open farmlands in the Mediterranean region, focusing on five areas designated to protect farmland birds in Southern Portugal. Using an impact-gradient design, we assessed how birds responded to the proximity of transmission powerlines. Breeding bird data were collected in 2021 and 2022. Our analysis revealed that, after controlling for habitat effects, overall Bird Species Richness and Grassland Bird Species Richness were not significantly influenced by the distance to powerlines. However, species-specific negative effects were observe

SUBMITTER: Marques AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12356646 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature