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It is estimated that only 10% of birds injured on power lines (due to collision or electrocution) are located. Many of the electrocuted birds die, but in the case of the collision many suffer severe trauma that prevents them from flying but does not kill them. In these cases, the birds hide under vegetation and die of starvation without anyone finding them.

Through the innovative use of a canine unit specialized in bird tracking, the aim is to rescue a greater number of affected birds and help to more adequately assess the true danger of each line by improving the detection of affected birds thanks to the dogs’ sense of smell.

Improve the detection of injured birds on power lines in order to adequately assess the danger of the power lines, increase the number of birds found and implement corrective measures to minimise this serious environmental problem.

• Training in the specialization in biodetection of three dogs.
• Inspection of power lines in Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs), the lines were prospected in a total of 3 SPAs, Sierra Grande de Hornachos, Campiña Sur, Sierras Centrales and the Alange reservoir.
• Contrast of the procedural guidelines used with the dogs of two projects (AMUS and TRENCA projects).

For the first time in Spain, an experimental trial of the use of dogs in the detection of birds affected by power lines is being carried out. UCRA (Canine Unit for the Rescue of Injured Birds on Power Lines) is a project that has demonstrated the effectiveness of dogs using their nose in front of the sight of humans. The project not only supersedes traditional search models based on terrestrial tracking by people, but in the same way, it overtakes any other detection system using the technologies.

The AMUS project “UCRA, Canine Unit for the Tracking of Birds Injured by Power Lines” manages to demonstrate that the use of dogs in the monitoring of power lines achieves better results (41%) compared to the monitoring carried out by people (10%).