Natural History Wanderings

ScienceDaily  reported on a study about the impact power poles are having on bird populations. Transmission poles in sagebrush ecosystems create ideal habitat for common ravens that threaten sensitive native bird species, including greater sage grouse.

The poles are the highest objects in some area. This creates an ideal nest site for ravens as it provides safety from predators, range fires, and heat stress. It also allows the ravens several hunting advantages including a wider range of vision, greater attack speed and easier take-off.

Raven populations have increased by 300 percent over the last 40 years. Ravens not only prey on Greater Sage Grouse eggs and nestlings but also federally endangered Desert Tortoise, the endangered San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike and the California Least Tern.

Read more at ScienceDaily:  Might more ravens — aided by humans — mean ‘nevermore’ for sage-grouse?.