As part of the initiative #WatchingLanding To avoid the problems of bird electrocution, six electrocuted birds of prey were recently located in the Murcian community of Valladolises.
Volunteer citizens’ initiative #WatchingLanding have discovered in recent months a high mortality among birds of prey that are protected on electricity cables in the area of Valladolises (Murcia). Particularly volunteers #WatchingLanding The remains of 3 eagle owls were found in June (Bubo bubo), of which one is ringed and 2 kestrels (A falcon ringing). While this month, thanks to the cooperation of citizens, the remains of a Short-toed Eagle were located (Circaetus French).
Most of the cases were under supports, the ownership of which apparently corresponded to Iberdrola. All cases were brought to the attention of the Environmental Officers so that the associated sanction procedures could be initiated.
An environment with bad precedents controlled by #WatchingLanding
The surroundings of Valladolises It is an area where numerous cases of electrocution of protected birds have been recorded and in fact incomplete corrections have already been made on some lines. In this sense, ANSE recalls that this area is a distribution area for the Bonelli’s eagle (a critically endangered species) and that this area is within the recently approved extension of the area for the protection of birds against electrocution.
For this reason, the association asks the regional government to urgently make this extension effective and require electric utilities to correct entire lines, as some electrocution has occurred in partially corrected lines. As scientific studies indicate, correcting some messages only shifts the problem to the uncorrected messages.
There is progress in correcting lines, but there is a lack of transparency
The Association welcomes recent progress (such as the extension of conservation areas) in correcting this serious conservation problem for large birds, but notes that there are difficulties in knowing the outcome of complaints and requests for information.
Thus, since 2020, the association has been waiting for data on mortality monitoring collected by environmental agents within the framework of the Electromur network. This lack of transparency from the Environmental Administration has been highlighted by the Transparency Council of the Region of Murcia, which granted the organization’s request in December last year, insisting that the Autonomous Community should provide the information within 15 days. Seven months later, the Association has still not received the data.
#LookingToTheLand is an initiative developed by the environmental organizations of the Region of Murcia, ANSE, Naturactúa, Ecologists in Action of the Region of Murcia, Meles, Anida, Ulula, Stipa, Calblanque Association, ADESGA and the Murcia Clean Region Association.