Evaluating Sandhill Crane Exposure to Collisions with Potential Transmission Lines

What is it about?

We utilized a large amount of data derived from satellite telemetry on sandhill crane locations and flight patterns to evaluate where in the Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico low-altitude flights are concentrated, and whether there are patterns to exposure to collision risk with hypothetical high-voltage transmission lines. We identified hotspots of activity, mostly associated with known high-use management areas, and determined that there are many places where a new high-voltage transmission line crossing the Rio Grande would pose little collision risk to wintering sandhill cranes.

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Photo by Richard Lee on Unsplash

Photo by Richard Lee on Unsplash

Why is it important?

As alternative energy development expands in the western United States, high-voltage transmission capacity is also expanding, potentially presenting novel impediments to wildlife movements across the landscape. Wintering sandhill cranes are a well-known and socio-economically important species in New Mexico, and are at greater risk of collision with powerlines due to their morphology and evolved flight behaviors. We conducted a landscape-scale assessment of collision risk, showing that while some areas potentially present increased exposure to collision, there are likely many areas where a high-voltage transmission line could be responsibly sited. The methods used in our study should be broadly replicable and applicable outside of the Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico, USA.

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