Khaberni - A recent scientific study revealed how human activity significantly affects the behavior of birds of prey, including eagles and royal eagles, altering their lifestyle and increasing their risk of death.
The researchers, who used small GPS tracking devices to record the birds' movements, explained that these animals no longer ignore humans as previously thought, but are affected by human crowds in natural areas and change their range of movement in search of food.
The data showed what is known as the "weekend and holiday effect," where eagles increase their range of movement on days when humans abound on beaches and in forests, and they may abandon mating if they experience significant human disturbance.
The study also confirmed that human activity leads to the death of large numbers of birds of prey, especially when colliding with power lines or being electrocuted.
In Spain alone, about 33,000 birds of prey are recorded dying annually due to power lines, while other species such as storks, ostriches, and other large birds face the same risks, and researchers noted that royal eagles are still subjected to hunting and poisoning despite legal protections.
Threats extend beyond traditional human activity to include modern developments in the field of renewable energy, where the installation of wind turbines has led to the deaths of thousands of eagles and falcons, with emphasis on the importance of precise planning of these projects' locations to minimize environmental losses.
On the other hand, the study showed that positive interventions such as modifying electricity towers to be bird-friendly can significantly reduce deaths. In the Doñana National Park in Spain, these measures have successfully reduced the incidence of electrocution of royal eagles by 97%.
In the United States, electricity companies are working to modify high-risk towers for eagles, to ensure better protection for endangered species.
The researchers emphasize that understanding the movements of birds of prey through GPS tracking enables the development of accurate solutions that reduce risks and help achieve a balance between human activity and environmental protection, representing a real opportunity to save these species from regional and global extinction.
