BEHAVIOR OF FREE-RANGING AND CAPTIVE AMERICAN KESTRELS UNDER ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

Wild birds, particularly raptors, commonly use electrical transmission structures for nesting, perching, hunting, and roosting. Consequently, birds are exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The amount of time that wild reproducing American kestrels (Falco sparverius) were exposed to EMFs was det...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A Part A, 2000-04, Vol.59 (8), p.597-603
Main Authors: FERNIE, K. J, LEONARD, N. J, BIRD, D. M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Aves
Behavior, Animal
Biological and medical sciences
Biological effects of radiation
Electromagnetic Fields
Falco sparverius
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Male
Nesting Behavior
Non ionizing radiations. Hertzian waves. Biooptics
Raptors
Reproduction
Sexual Behavior, Animal
Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics
Vertebrata
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Summary:Wild birds, particularly raptors, commonly use electrical transmission structures for nesting, perching, hunting, and roosting. Consequently, birds are exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The amount of time that wild reproducing American kestrels (Falco sparverius) were exposed to EMFs was determined, and the effects of EMFs on the behavior of captive reproducing kestrels were examined. Wild kestrels were exposed to EMFs for 25% to 75% of the observed time. On a 24-h basis, estimated EMF exposure of wild kestrels ranged from 71% during courtship, to 90% during incubation, similar to that experienced by captive kestrels (88% of a 24-h period). Additionally, captive kestrels were exposed to EMF levels experienced by wild kestrels nesting under 735-kV power lines. Captive EMF females were more active, more alert, and perched on the pen roof more frequently than control females during courtship. EMF females preened and rested less often during brood rearing. EMF male kestrels were more active than control males during courtship, and more alert during incubation. Increased activity of kestrels during courtship may be linked to changes in corticosterone, but likely not melatonin. Observed behavioral changes were unlikely to directly result in the better growth of nestlings and fledging success, or poorer hatching success, of the EMF group, as previously reported. Behavioral changes of captive EMF kestrels may be observed in wild kestrels.
ISSN:1528-7394
0098-4108
1087-2620
DOI:10.1080/009841000156619