Anthropogenic Material in Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) Nests Causes Voltage Drops in Electrical Transmission Lines in Argentina

Abstract

The Crested Caracara is a generalist raptor distributed throughout central and southern South America. Caracaras are well adapted to anthropocentric landscapes throughout the caracara’s range and frequently nest on human-built structures and incorporate anthropogenic material in their nests, such as plastics, wires, and baling twine. Anthropogenic material in nests can cause entanglement mortality in caracaras. We here report for the first time another negative consequence of the occurrence of anthropogenic materials in caracara nests on power pylons: electrical contacts resulting in voltage drops.