UTAS analyses eagle data to predict high death risk power lines
More than 100 eagles were killed by powerlines in Tasmania in just five years, prompting researchers to look for answers. Inside the new lifesaving tool they’ve developed.
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Tasmanian researchers have developed a powerful new tool to map the risk of eagle power line collisions.
Power lines are one of the leading causes of death for large birds of prey in Tasmania and globally, with more than 100 deaths occurring in the state between 2017 and 2023.
UTAS’ Dr James Pay and his team from the School of Natural Sciences analysed six years of GPS tracking data from 23 eagles for research, which was published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.
“Between 2017 and 2023, 110 wedge-tailed eagles were confirmed as injured or killed by power line infrastructure in Tasmania,” he said.
“The impact of collisions on the birds is significant, so rather than relying solely on reported fatalities, which can be biased or incomplete, we can now use the information we have about eagles’ flight paths to accurately predict where collision risk is highest and act before incidents happen.”
The report analysed over 723,000 low-altitude eagle flight steps and found more than 9,400 power line crossings at risky low altitudes.
Using this data, the team built a detailed model that predicts where eagles are most likely to cross power lines at low altitudes, which is where the risk of collision is highest.
It found that more than 50 per cent of collisions occurred on the 20 per cent of the lines with the highest risk.
The study found that eagles are more likely to make hazardous crossings in areas with a mix of open land and forest edges, particularly in remote regions. It also found risky crossings peaked in autumn and winter.
UTAS is working with TasNetworks, the state’s electricity transmission and distribution company, to help guide conservation strategies.
TasNetworks’ Leader of Environment and Sustainability, Ed Parker said bird deaths in high-risk areas had “significantly reduced” but there was still more to be done and “no room for complacency”.
“Our people are very passionate about protecting iconic birds, and we invest almost $1 million each year,” Mr Parker said.
New technologies were already making a big difference in reducing deaths, he said, with mitigation such as flappers, covers, and perches covering more than 600km of high-risk lines.
He said the new delta design standard spreads lines further apart to reduce electrocution risk.
Dr Pay said the model offers a data-driven approach to protecting wildlife and could be used in planning for new essential infrastructure and for targeted biodiversity conservation efforts.
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