Illegal killing of protected nongame birds is pervasive and can be demographically relevant. In 2021 and 2022, we evaluated spatial and temporal patterns in illegal killing of birds along 69.7 km of power lines in the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in Idaho, USA, to provide insight into potential drivers behind the activity and key information to manage this threat across the American west. The illegal shooting of 8 species of raptors and corvids we documented was clumped both temporally and spatially, as opposed to being randomly distributed across the year and landscape. We found 72 illegally shot birds, most killed during spring months (March to May), coincident with peak time periods of legal recreational shooting activity, and in places with high levels of recreational shooting. We also found evidence of targeted killing of raptors in the conservation area in areas not associated with recreational shooting. Given the numbers of nesting pairs of some local raptor species, this shooting is likely demographically relevant for some but not all local populations. Likewise, with the prevalence of recreational shooting across the American west, the inference we draw is broadly relevant beyond our Idaho study area. The insight our work provides can enable owners of power lines, law enforcement agencies, and resource managers to coordinate in outreach, regulatory, and law enforcement action to manage a threat that may have widespread impacts for some avian species.
How to Cite
Thomason, E. C., J. R. Belthoff, S. A. Poessel, and T. E. Katzner (2024). Illegal shooting of protected nongame birds along power lines coincides with places and times of peak legal recreational shooting. Ornithological Applications 126:duae020.
LAY SUMMARY
Illegal killing of birds is pervasive and demographically relevant. Law enforcement and resource managers would benefit from understanding when, where, and why illegal killing occurs.
We use data collected along power lines in a conservation area in Idaho, USA, to evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution of illegal shooting of protected nongame birds.
Illegal shooting of raptors and corvids did not focus on specific species and occurred during peak periods and in locations of legal recreational shooting activities. Additionally, a law enforcement investigation found that some of the illegal shooting we detected was a targeted act as opposed to an opportunistic event.
The insight our work provides can enable owners of power lines, law enforcement agencies, and resource managers to coordinate in outreach, regulatory, and law enforcement actions to manage a threat that may have widespread impacts for some avian species.
La matanza ilegal de aves protegidas que no son de caza es generalizada y puede ser demográficamente relevante. En 2021 y 2022, evaluamos los patrones espaciales y temporales de la caza ilegal de aves a lo largo de 69,7 km de líneas de energía en el Área de Conservación Nacional de Aves de Presa Morley Nelson Snake River en Idaho, EEUU, para proporcionar información sobre posibles impulsores detrás de la actividad e información clave para manejar esta amenaza en el oeste americano. La caza ilegal de 8 especies de rapaces y córvidos que documentamos estaba agrupada tanto temporal como espacialmente, en lugar de distribuirse al azar a lo largo del año y del paisaje. Encontramos 72 aves abatidas ilegalmente, la mayoría muertas durante los meses de primavera (marzo a mayo), coincidiendo con períodos de mayor actividad de caza recreativa legal, y en lugares con altos niveles de caza recreativa. También encontramos evidencia de caza dirigida hacia las rapaces en el área de conservación en sitios no asociados con la caza recreativa. Dado el número de parejas reproductoras de algunas especies locales de rapaces, es probable que esta caza sea demográficamente relevante para algunas, pero no todas, de las poblaciones locales. Del mismo modo, con la prevalencia de la caza recreativa en el oeste americano, la inferencia que sacamos es ampliamente relevante más allá de nuestra área de estudio en Idaho. La perspectiva que proporciona nuestro trabajo puede permitir a los propietarios de líneas de energía, agencias de aplicación de la ley y administradores de recursos coordinarse en acciones de divulgación, regulación y aplicación de la ley para manejar una amenaza que puede tener impactos generalizados para algunas especies de aves.
