An experimental study of electrocution-decreasing methods for Oriental Storks(Ciconia boyciana) in captivity

• Published in: The Korean Journal of Ornithology Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 112 - 116
• Main Authors: Ha, Dong-Soo, Nam, Hyung-Kyu, Yoon, Jongmin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한국조류학회 31.12.2018; 한국조류학회II
• Subjects: 생물학; Perching behavior; Electrocution; 황새; 감전사; Utility pole; 전봇대; Oriental stork; 저감 장치
• ISSN: 1225-9179; 2586-6893
• DOI: 10.30980/KJO.2018.12.25.2.112

Electrocution is one of the key components affecting the mortality of birds. Various electrocution-decreasing methods refer to two directions: safe perching with insulation versus perching restriction. In Yesan County, we have reintroduced 30 oriental storks (Ciconia boyciana) since 2015. Two female storks died due to electrocution while perching in a utility pole in 2016. To reduce such electrocution mortality in storks, a branch of Korea Electric Power Corporation partly installed insulators in 630 utility poles located in the major habitats of Yesan in 2016-2017. Simultaneously, we conducted an experiment to reduce the perching events using 8 captive storks and the two types of common utility poles along with/without the installation of bird-spikes and/or wires in Mar-Jun of 2017. Our results indicated the installation of additional wires alone exhibited a lack of reduction in perching, while those of bird-spikes or both significantly decreased their perching frequencies. Therefore, the present study highlights the installation of bird spikes on top of utility poles may elicit a better effect so that storks avoid perching in utility poles, presumably resulting in lowering potential electrocution in the wild. KCI Citation Count: 0