Title of deliverable: Fact Sheet Nº18 Autumn report of previous results recordings of bird collisions from the cockpit.

Transcription

1 LIFE IMPACTO CERO Development and demonstration of an anti bird strike tubular screen for High Speed Rail lines (LIFE12 BIO/ES/000660) The reduction of the collisions of birds with the High Speed railway is an issue of growing interest during the last years. The railway infra structures regenerate several effects on birds, to which the high speed must be added as an additional attention factor for these types of lines. Life Impacto Cero project (Development and demonstration of an anti bird strike tubular screen for High Speed Rail lines) co financed by "Life" program from European Commission, has as its main purpose the determination of protection measures for avifauna through anti strike screens in High Speed railway lines. For this, this project will evaluate the effectiveness of a new design of anti strike screen, based on the concept of "exempt tubes screen". The intention is to increase knowledge on the interaction between railway infrastructure and avifauna, with the purpose of introducing design improvements guaranteeing the conservation of bio diversity, making therefore the infrastructures suitable with the protection of birds and reducing the impact of the current and future High Speed lines. Title of deliverable: Fact Sheet º18 Autumn report of previous results recordings of bird collisions from the cockpit. Date of document completion: 30/01/2015 Document associated to Action A5: Action A: Preparatory actions, elaboration of management plans and/or of action plans Action A5: Analysis and evaluation of preliminary results Deliverable summary: The deliverable analyses the results obtained in the fieldworks performed during the autumn 2014 campaign (Action A3). These results are gathered in deliverables 15, 16 and 17 under titles Geographical database (GDB) of bird censuses, Geographical database (GDB) of death records of birds and Geographical database (GDB) of results for crossover frequencies and flight behaviour over infrastructure, respectively. The documents contained in the deliverable are structured in the following sections: 1

2 Abundance and distribution of avifauna: the methodology used in the performed samplings is exposed, as well as the main avifauna abundance indicators (densities and relative abundance indexes) in the different stretches selected (deliverable 8) (see Sheet 8). Mortality samplings: the methodology followed in the field samplings is detailed, offering a first approach to the avifauna mortality estimations in stretches ST13 (HSL Madrid Levante, Villarrubia de Santiago) and ST14 (HSL Madrid Levante, Santa Cruz de la Zarza). These results must be considered provisional, being subject to modifications derived from the identification of the samples collected in the field, and to the application of correction factors relative to the corpse disappearance rate and their detectability by the researchers. Samplings of crossing height and avifauna behaviour over the HSL: in this chapter the methodology designed for the performance of samplings and a basic analysis of the data gathered is included, offering the average flight heights for the different detected species, the frequency of crossing at different heights relevant for the collision risk they carry, and the use by some species of the different elements forming the infrastructure. The main purpose is the analysis of the data gathered at the fieldwork. Once this action is concluded, the necessary information will be provided to propose the most adequate locations for the installation of anti strike screens. Also, all the data gathered during this phase will be used to build a pre operation model with which the effects derived from the implementation of screens will be contrasted, and these effects will be evaluated in Actions D1 to D3. 2

3 Abundance and Distribution of Avifauna In the chapter of the deliverable, the preliminary results obtained in the avifauna censuses performed in 2014 autumn campaign are presented. The analysis works performed are explained and it is developed a methodology relative to: Linear transects on foot Fig.1 Example. Study area and transects in ST13 Villarrubia de Santiago Occasional census stations Fig. 2 Example. Census stations and census area in ST5 Vega del Bernesga 3

4 Direct counts through routes in car Fig. 3 Example of data collected in censuses in vehicles ST14 Observation stations Fig. 4 Example of observations from Stations in ST5 Controls 1 and 2 Allowing to have in all the methods of species relative abundance indexes, for their further comparison with the data obtained in the rest of the samplings. Among the results obtained and developed in the deliverable, we should quote registration in ST13 (HSL Madrid Levante, Villarrubia de Santiago) of 21 bird species, counting a total 1,339 specimens and in ST14 (HSL Madrid Levante, Santa Cruz de la Zarza) of 34 species increasing to 4,245 the total number of registered individuals. 4

5 In ST13 (HSL Madrid Levante, Villarrubia de Santiago) the species that gave a higher global AKI (Abundance Kilometre Index) were the spotless starling, European goldfinch and corn bunting (AKI= 15.67, and birds/km, respectively). For the assembly of the species of the AKI was birds/km, being the relative abundance higher in the transects performed by the HSL with respect to those located 500 away from it (AK=68.08 vs birds/km): Scientifi AKI AKI Track c ame Global 500m AKI Corn Emberiza ± ± ± 0.12 bunting calandra Spotless starling Sturnus unicolor ± ± ± European Carduelis goldfinch carduelis ± ± ± 4.36 Total ± ± ± Table 1. Abundance Kilometre Indexes (AKI: no. birds/km) for the 3 most significant species registered in the study stretch ST13 Villarrubia de Santiago (averages and typical deviation). Global AKI: for the total of transects. AKI track: for the transects performed by the HSL. AKI 500 m: for the transects performed 500m from the HSL. The analysis of the densities shows a quite similar standard to that of the relative abundances. The estimated general density was birds km 2, finding the highest values in the European goldfinch, the black starling and the corn bunting (D=132.50, and birds/km 2, respectively). Also, in this case, the joint density by the track is higher than 500 metres away ( vs birds/km 2 ): Corn bunting Scientifi c ame Emberiza calandra Den. global Den. tra k Den. 500m ± ± ± 1.18 Spotless starling Sturnus unicolor ± ± ± European Carduelis goldfinch carduelis ± ± ± Total ± ± ± Table 2. Densities (D: no. birds/km 2 ) of the 3 most significant species registered through linear transects in study stretch ST13 Villarrubia de Santiago (averages and typical deviation). D global: for the total of transects. D track: for the transects performed by the HSL. D 500 m: for the transects performed 500m from the HSL. The species with a wider distribution were the crested lark, the European goldfinch and the corn bunting, being detected in 87.50%, 75.00% and 58.33% of the transects, respectively: 5

6 Scientifi c ame Freq. Global Freq. track Freq. 500m Crested lark Corn bunting European goldfinch Galerida cristata ± ± ± 0.00 Emberiza calandra Carduelis carduelis ± ± ± ± ± ± Table 3. Frequency of appearance in transects (F: in percentage) for the 3 most significant species registered in the study stretch ST13 Villarrubia de Santiago (averages and typical deviation). F global: for the total of transects. F track: for the transects performed by the HSL. F 500 m: for the transects performed 500m from the HSL. With respect to the counts performed in vehicle, the most abundant species was the great bustard, with an average density of 6.07 birds/km 2, and the rest of species present density values under 1 bird/km 2 : Scientific ame o. ind C1 o. ind C2 D Great bustard Otis tarda ± 1.89 Table 4. Density (D: no. birds/km 2 ) of the most significant species registered through routes in vehicle in study stretch ST13 Villarrubia de Santiago (range, average and typical deviation). In ST14 (HSL Madrid Levante, Santa Cruz de la Zarza) the most abundant species in relation with their AKI were the spotless starling, the chalk browed mockingbird and the crested lark (AKI=115.75, and birds/km, respectively). For the assembly of all species, the global AKI was birds/km, obtaining the highest values in the transects performed 500 metres away from the infrastructure (AKI= vs birds/km): Scientifi c ame AKI Global Track AKI AKI 500m Eurasian skylark Alauda arvensis ± ± ± Calandra Melanocorypha lark calandra ± ± ± Spotless starling Sturnus unicolor ± ± ± Total ± ± ± Table 5. Abundance Kilometre Indexes (AKI: no. birds/km) for the 3 most significant species registered in the study stretch ST14 Santa Cruz de la Zarza (averages and typical deviation). AKI global: for the total of transects. AKI track: for the transects performed by the HSL. AKI 500 m: for the transects performed 500m from the HSL. 6

7 The highest estimated densities corresponded to the common linnet, the Eurasian skylark and the crested lark, with 86.25, and birds/km 2. The global density for the assembly of the species was birds/km 2, being bigger by the HSL ( vs ). Eurasian skylark Crested lark Scientifi c ame Den. global Den. track Den. 500m Alauda arvensis ± ± ± Galerida cristata ± ± ± 1.18 Common Carduelis linnet cannabina ± ± ± Total ± ± ± Table 6. Densities (D: no. birds/km 2 ) of the 3 most significant species registered through linear transects in study stretch ST14 Santa Cruz de la Zarza (averages and typical deviation). D global: for the total of transects. D track: for the transects performed by the HSL. D 500 m: for the transects performed 500m from the HSL. The crested lark, the common linnet and the Eurasian skylark were the species that appeared in a higher number of transects, being registered in 91.67%, 58.33% and 58.33% of them, respectively: Scientifi c ame Freq. Global Freq. track Freq. 500m Eurasian Alauda arvensis ± ± ± Crested lark Galerida cristata ± ± ± 0.00 Common linnet Carduelis cannabina ± ± ± Table 7. Frequency of appearance in transects (F: in percentage) for the 3 most significant species registered in the study stretch ST14 Santa Cruz de la Zarza (averages and typical deviation). F global: for the total of transects. F track: for the transects performed by the HSL. F 500 m: for the transects performed 500m from the HSL. Of the species registered through direct counts in vehicle, those displaying a higher density were rock dove and the red legged partridge, with 4.69 and 1.03 birds/km 2 respectively: 7

8 Scientific ame o. ind C1 o. ind C2 average den Rock dove Columba livia ± 3.18 Red legged partridge Alectoris rufa ± 0.48 Table 8. Densities (D: no. birds/km 2 ) of the 2 most significant species registered through linear routes in vehicle in study stretch ST14 Santa Cruz de la Zarza (range, average and typical deviation). In ST5 (HSL Palencia León, Vega del Esla), during the Autumn censuses campaign, 57 bird species were registered, including both those observed in census stations and in routes in vehicle, with a total 4,549 birds registered. with a higher AOI (Abundance Occasional Index) were spotless starling, meadow pipit and common linnet (AOI=649.33, and birds/100 stations, respectively). The global AOI for all the stations and species was 2, birds/100 stations, the highest being found 500 metres away from the HSL (2, vs ). Scientifi c ame AOI global AOI track AOI 500m Meadow pipit Anthus pratensis ± ± ± 2.95 Spotless Sturnus starling unicolor ± ± ± Common Carduelis linnet cannabina ± ± ± Total ± ± ± Table 9. Abundance Occasional Indexes (AOI: no. birds/km100 stations) for the 3 most significant species registered in the study stretch ST5 Vega del Esla (averages and typical deviation). AOI global: for the total of census stations. AOI track: for the census stations by the HSL. AOI 500m: for the stations registered 500m away from the HSL. The highest density values were observed in spotless starling ( birds/km 2 ), the house sparrow ( birds/km 2 ) and the common linnet ( birds/km 2 ), resulting in the total density for the assembly of the species of 3, birds/km 2. The census stations located by the HSL offered densities very similar to those 500m away from the infrastructure (3, and 3, birds/km 2, respectively): Scientific Den. Den. Den. ame global 500m track Spotless Sturnus ± ± ± starling unicolor House Passer ± ± ± sparrow domesticus Common Carduelis ± ± ±

9 linnet Scientific ame cannabina Den. global Den. track Den. 500m Total ± ± ± Table 10. Densities (D: no. birds/km 2 ) for the 3 most significant species registered through occasional census stations in study stretch ST5 Vega del Esla (averages and typical deviation). D global: for the total of census stations. D track: for the census stations by the HSL. D 500m: for the stations registered 500m away from the HSL. The most ubiquitous species were meadow pipit, common chiffchaff and Cetti's warbler, having seen their presence in 55.33%, 34.67% and 34.00% of the stations respectively: Meadow pipit Cetti's warbler Common chiffchaff Scientifi c ame Anthus pratensis Freq. Global Freq. track Freq. 500m ± ± ± 1.47 Cettia cetti ± ± ± 2.95 Phylloscopus collybita ± ± ± Table 11. Frequency of appearance in census stations (F: in percentage) for the 3 most significant species registered in the study stretch ST5 Vega del Esla (averages and typical deviation). F global: for the total of census stations. F track: for the census stations by the HSL. F 500m: for the stations registered 500m away from the HSL. In the direct counts performed in car, a total 14 bird species were identified, mainly anatidae, doves and corvids, adding between the two effected censuses 1,068 specimens. The species that gave the highest average density values were the mallard (17.28 birds/km 2 ), the rock dove (7.30 birds/km 2 ) and the common wood pigeon (3.39 birds/km 2 ): Scientific ame o. ind C1 o. ind C2 average den Mallard Anas platyrhynchos ± 9.76 Rock dove Columba livia ± 2.86 Common wood Columba palumbus ± 1.27 Table 12. Densities (D: no. birds/km 2 ) of the 3 most significant species registered through routes in vehicle in study stretch ST5 Vega del Esla (range, average and typical deviation). 9

10 In ST5 Controls 1 and 2 (HSL Palencia León, Valle del Bernesga), during the autumn samplings, a total 38 species were registered, making the number of registered species go up to 688. The species with the highest AOIs were the European robin, the house sparrow and the common chaffinch, with , and birds/100 stations, respectively. For the assembly of the species, the average value of the abundance index was 1, birds/100 stations. Scientific ame AOI Global House sparrow Passer domesticus ± 7.25 European robin Erithacus rubecula ± Common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs ± 7.35 Total ± Table 13. Abundance Occasional Indexes (AOI: no. birds/100 stations) for the 3 most significant species registered in the study stretch ST5 Controls 1 and 2 valle del Bernesga (averages and typical deviation). The highest estimated densities belong to house sparrow ( birds/km 2 ), the European robin ( birds/km 2 ) and the common chaffinch ( birds/km 2 ), resulting in an average density for the assembly of avifauna of 1, birds/km 2. Scientific ame Den. global House sparrow Passer domesticus ± Common wood pigeon Columba palumbus 9.79 ± Common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs ± Total ± Table 14. Densities (D: no. birds/km2) for the 3 most significant species registered through occasional census stations in study stretch ST5 Controls 1 and 2 valle del Bernesga (average and typical deviation). D global: for the total of census stations. The species with a higher appearance percentage in the census stations were European robin, common chaffinch and great tit, with frequencies of 94.30%, 73.58% and 54.84%, respectively: 10

11 Scientific ame Freq. Global Great tit Parus major ± 9.47 European robin Erithacus rubecula ± 2.82 Common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs ± 0.71 Table 15. Frequency of appearance in census stations (F: in percentage) for the 3 most significant species registered in the study stretch ST5 Controls 1 and 2 valle del Bernesga (averages and typical deviation). F global: for the total of census stations. In the observation estimations, the presence of 6 bird species were registered, with a total 15 sightings in 12 hours of observations for the two control stretches. In general, corvids (crows and ravens) were the most frequent species, with 6 observations altogether. Among the Conclusions, it can be quoted that the performance of the censuses meant a huge sampling effort, allowing to obtain consistent avifauna abundance estimations and a reference frame with which we can contrast both the data relative to crossing frequency and height of birds over the HSL as well as data relative to mortality. evertheless, the censuses of birds performed during the autumn period involve certain limitations that we must keep in mind. First of, the detectability of the individuals is lower than in spring, since the males either do not sing or they do it during really short periods of time. This conditioner is much more noticeable in study stretch ST5, due to the highest coverage of tree and bush stratum, which makes the visual detection of birds much more difficult. Secondly, the aggregation of animals in wintering bands, common in many species, introduces a high source for variation in the abundance calculations, which is a fact that happens much less in censuses performed during the reproduction period. The community of birds in stretches ST13 and ST14 was characterised by the dominance of generalist species linked to farm and rural environments (larks, goldfinches, linnets, starlings, doves, sparrows, etc.), and other ones more typical and exclusive to steppe environments (calandra larks, larks, bustards, etc.). The censuses performed in stretches ST5 display a much richer bird community, with purely superior abundance values to those found in Toledo. The explanation to the higher specific richness responds mainly to two reasons. First, to a much higher substrate diversity; although corn crops occupy a huge extent, the landscape is dotted with poplar groves, groves, bush borders, small wetlands, etc., circumstance that allows the presence of several species with different requirements. Second, while most part of the species detected in stretch ST13 and ST14 are still present, except for those exclusively from the steppe environment (calandria larks, bustards, little bustard, etc.), we must add those with a more northerly distribution (whinchat, Eurasian bullfinch, etc.). On the other hand, the abundant presence of water in the Esla meadow (small wetlands, ditches and irrigation channels) allows a higher productivity in the area, a fact that results in a higher loading capacity of the system, and as consequence, a higher amount of individuals. 11

12 Mortality Samplings In the chapter of the deliverable, the results obtained in the mortality samplings carried out in autumn 2014 (See Sheet 16). These results must be considered preliminary, being subject to future modifications derived from the analysis of the samples gathered in field of those unidentified birds. The generated database contains information referring to signs of mortality, understanding as a sign any remains of the bird (corpses, feathers, bones, etc.) found during the samplings. The determination of the accident cases was performed grouping all the signs that may correspond to a same collision event, analysing species by species and case by case. For it, all the information collected in field was considered, such as the date of registration, the presence and location of other remains nearby, age of the remains, sex and age of the individual, etc. Among the results obtained and developed in the deliverable, we must quote the registration in ST13 (HSL Madrid Levante, Villarrubia de Santiago) of 33 bird mortality signs, having determined to a specific level a total 14 taxa. After the data analysis process, it was estimated that there were 27 run over cases, from which 48.15% correspond to animals that died during the study period, 37.04% of deaths produced during the Summer and Autumn samplings and the 14.81% left correspond to collision events before the Summer sampling began: Scientific ame Very old Old Recent Total Percentage (only recent) Great bustard Otis tarda Eurasian eagle owl Bubo bubo Common buzzard Buteo buteo Crested lark Galerida cristata Black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Sardinian warbler Sylvia melanocephala Spotless starling Sturnus unicolor European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Little owl Athene noctua Rock dove Columba livia Common wood Columba palumbus Common linnet Carduelis cannabina Red legged Alectoris rufa Unidentified Eurasian magpie Pica pica Total Table 16. umber of estimated accidents for each species in study stretch ST13. Very old: corresponds to all those remains that their age allows to assign them to events before the beginning of the summer 2014 campaign. Old: corresponds to all those remains with an age that allows assigning them to events that happened during the period comprehended between the summer and autumn campaigns. Recent: remains that surely belong to animals dead during the autumn campaign. Total: total number of accident events. Percentage: 12

13 percentage representing each species with respect to the total number of accidents considering only the recent category. Only considering recent observations, the species with a highest accident mortality rate during autumn 2014 were rock dove (4 registrations: 30.77%), followed by magpies, little owls and Eurasian eagle owls (2 registrations in all cases; 15.38%). Fig. 5 Example of birds mortality plan. Recent Registrations. ST13 Among the remains assigned to the period comprehended between the summer and autumn samplings, it can be highlighted a specimen of common buzzard, found in the first visit and probably run over few days before. The mortality samplings carried out in stretch ST14 (HSL Madrid Levante, Santa Cruz de la Zarza) allowed registering a total 60 remains of birds in the infrastructure, belonging to 13 identified taxa on the species level. The estimated number of accidents was 47, 28 of them happened during the study period (59.57%), 16 during the period comprehended between the summer and autumn samplings (34.04%) and 3 of them assigned to events prior to Summer 2014: 13

14 Scientific ame Very old Old Recent Total Percentage (only recent) Lark s.i. Alaudidae sp Eurasian eagle owl Bubo bubo Common buzzard Buteo buteo Crested lark Galerida cristata Spotless starling Sturnus unicolor Spotless starling cf. Sturnus unicolor cf Eurasian Accipiter nisus House sparrow Passer domesticus Little owl Athene noctua Rock dove Columba livia Rock dove cf. Columba livia cf Common wood Columba palumbus Common linnet Carduelis cannabina Common linnet cf. Carduelis cannabina cf Passerine si Passeriforme sp Red legged partridge Alectoris rufa Unidentified Eurasian collared Streptopelia decaocto Eurasian magpie Pica pica Total Table 17. umber of estimated accidents for each species in study stretch ST14. Very old: corresponds to all those remains that their age allows to assign them to events before the beginning of the summer 2014 campaign. Old: corresponds to all those remains that their age allows to assign them to events produced in the period comprehended between the summer and autumn campaigns. Recent: remains that surely belong to animals dead during the autumn campaign. Total: total number of accident events. Percentage: percentage representing each species with respect to the total number of accidents considering only the recent category. Considering only the recent observations, the species with a higher number of observations was rock dove (11 registrations; 39.29%), the red legged partridge (4 registrations; 14.29%), the spotless starling (3 registrations; 10.71%) and the common linnet (2 registrations; 7.14%), and we must highlight as well the presence of a specimen of Eurasian sparrowhawk. 14

15 Fig. 6 Example of birds mortality plan. Recent Registrations. ST14 Among the old remains corresponding to the interval between the sampling campaigns, we must highlight one specimen of Eurasian eagle own, one of common buzzard and one of little owl. Among the Conclusions, we can quote that the offered results must be considered as a first approach, before confirming the identification of the samples kept in the laboratory. On the other hand, in posterior phases of the study and with a wider arrange of data, the corpse disappearance from field rate will be analysed, as well as the search effectiveness of the observers, all of this in order to correct the obtained mortality estimations. During the Autumn 2014 campaign and considering jointly both study stretches, a total 93 signs were registered, having estimated in 74 the number of dead birds, from which approximately 55% were run over during the study period. The species with a highest number of recent observations were rock dove (15 birds), the red legged partridge (5 birds) and the spotless starling (3 birds). We can highlight as well the observation of 3 specimens of Eurasian eagle owl (2 of them dead during the Autumn sampling period and 1 assigned to the interval between the Summer and Autumn samplings), 2 of common buzzard (both dead in the interval during samplings), 1 sparrowhawk (dead during the Autumn period) and 3 common little owls (2 of them dead during the sampling and 1 before that). 15

16 Samplings of the crossing height and behaviour of avifauna over HSL In the chapter of the deliverable there are exposed the methodology (see sheet 17) and the preliminary results of the samplings of the crossing height, the flight behaviour of avifauna over HSL, and the use of the infrastructure performed in Summer Among the results obtained and developed in the deliverable, we must quote the 65 events of crossing over a HSL in ST13 (HSL Madrid Levante, Villarrubia de Santiago), counting a total 308 specimens belonging to 20 species. The crossing frequency for the assembly of the observations was crossings/km hour and birds/km hour. The species with a higher number of registrations were Eurasian magpie (9.52 crossings/km hour; birds/km hour), European goldfinch (5.36 crossings/km hour; birds/km hour), and white wagtail (2.98 crossings/km hour; 4.76 birds/km hour). The average flight height at the moment of crossing the infrastructure was 8.2 metres, with maximum values for griffon vulture (30.0 m), Eurasian skylark (150.0 m) and common raven (14.5 m) and minimum values for Western marsh harrier (2.0 m), Southern grey shrike (2.3 m), European greenfinch (3.0 m) and common linnets (3.3 m). In 50.8% of the cases, the registered crossing height was lower than 8.5 m (risk of collision with the rolling material or the catenary): Scientific ame o. crossings F crossings o. ind F ind. House sparrow Passer domesticus European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Eurasian magpie Pica pica Total Table 18. Frequency of crossing of the 3 most significant species over HSL. o. crossings: number of crossing events over HSL. F crossings: frequency of crossing events over HSL (no. crossings/1000 m of HSL and 1 hour of observation). o. ind: number of individuals crossing over the HSL. F ind: frequency of individuals crossing over the HSL (no. individuals/1000 m of HSL and 1 hour of observation). Scientific ame Flight Height ± DT Cat I Cat II Cat III Cat IV Western marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus 2.0 ± Southern grey shrike Lanius meridionalis 2.3 ± Eurasian skylark Alauda arvensis 15.0 ± Meadow pipit Anthus pratensis 4.0 ± Griffon vulture Gyps fulvus 30.0 ± Crested lark Galerida cristata 5.3 ±

17 Scientific ame Flight Height ± DT Cat I Cat II Cat III Cat IV Common raven Corvus corax 14.5 ± Corn bunting Emberiza calandra 6.5 ± Merlin Falco columbarius 5.0 ± Spotless starling Sturnus unicolor 10.0 ± Rock sparrow Petronia petronia 5.0 ± House sparrow Passer domesticus 5.0 ± European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 7.8 ± White wagtail Motacilla alba 8.3 ± Red kite Milvus milvus 11.0 ± Rock dove Columba livia 13.3 ± Common linnet Carduelis cannabina 3.3 ± European serin Serinus serinus 4.0 ± Eurasian magpie Pica pica 9.7 ± European greenfinch Chloris chloris 3.0 ± Total 8.2 ± Table 19. Flight height (average ± typical deviation, expressed in metres) and percentage of crossings depending on the categorization of the flight height. Cat I: flight height <0 m. Cat II: 0<flight height<5.3 m. Cat III: 5.3<flight height<8.5 m. Cat IV: flight height>8.5 m. 16 bird species were identified making some type of use of the track, adding up 251 individuals and minutes. In this stretch we can highlight the registrations of spotless starling (150 specimens; 8 minutes of use), European serin (19 specimens; 17 minutes of use) and common linnet (17 specimens; 30.5 minutes of use): Scientific ame cat t cat pil t pil pla t pla pos t pos slo t slo fen t fen tot t tot Crested lark Dartford warbler European greenfinch Southern grey shrike Common kestrel House sparrow Sardinia n warbler European goldfinch Galerida cristata Sylvia undata Chloris chloris Lanius meridionalis Falco tinnunculus Passer domesticus Sylvia melanocephala Carduelis carduelis

18 Scientific ame cat t cat pil t pil pla t pla pos t pos slo t slo fen t fen tot t tot Black redstart White wagtail European stonechat Common chaffinch Eurasian magpie Common linnet European serin Spotless starling Phoenicurus ochruros Motacilla alba Saxicola rubicola Fringilla coelebs Pica pica Carduelis cannabina Serinus serinus Sturnus unicolor Total Table 20. umber of individuals and time of use (expressed in minutes) of the infrastructure by the birds. cat: no. of individuals in catenary. t cat: time of use in catenary. pas: no. individuals in passageways. t pas: time of use in passageways. pil: no. individuals in pillars. t pil: time of use in pillars. pla: no. individuals in embankment. t pla: time of use in embankment. pos: no. individuals in posts. t pos: time of use in posts. slo: no. individuals in slopes. t slo: time of use in slopes. tot: total number of individuals. t tot: total time of use. In stretch ST14 (HSL Madrid Levante, Santa Cruz de la Zarza) a total 85 crossings over the track were registered (1,619 specimens belonging to 18 bird species), resulting in a frequency for all the observations together of crossings/km hour (1,349 birds/km hour). The rock dove (9.17 crossings/km hour; 95 birds/km hour), the spotless starling (8.33 crossings/km hour; 1, birds/km hour) and the crested lark (8.33 crossings/km hour; birds/km hour) were the species with a higher number of registrations. The average flight height over the infrastructure was 31.5 metres, with a range between the m of average for common crane (single band with 70 individuals) and 1.3 m for black redstart. 40.2% of the observations were registered under the 8.5 m marked by the catenary. Scientific ame o. crossings F crossings o. ind F ind. Crested lark Galerida cristata Spotless starling Sturnus unicolor Rock dove Columba livia Total Table 21. Frequency of crossing of the 3 most significant species over HSL. o. crossings: number of crossing events over HSL. F crossings: frequency of crossing events over HSL (no. crossings/1000 m of HSL and 1 hour of observation). o. ind: number of individuals crossing over the HSL. F ind: frequency of individuals crossing over the HSL (no. individuals/1000 m of HSL and 1 hour of observation). 18

19 Scientific ame Flight Height ± DT Cat I Cat II Cat III Cat IV Eurasian skylark Alauda arvensis 11.7 ± Common kestrel Falco tinnunculus 9.0 ± Crested lark Galerida cristata 4.2 ± Black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 1.3 ± Carrion crow Corvus corone 8.8 ± Common raven Corvus corax 20.0 ± Corn bunting Emberiza calandra 9.1 ± Merlin Falco columbarius 10.0 ± Spotless starling Sturnus unicolor 17.9 ± Pin tailed Pterocles alchata 40.0 ± Eurasian tree Passer montanus 2.0 ± Common crane Grus grus ± European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 5.9 ± White wagtail Motacilla alba 4.7 ± Red kite Milvus milvus 16.2 ± Rock dove Columba livia 8.5 ± Common linnet Carduelis cannabina 5.3 ± Passerine s.i ± Eurasian magpie Pica pica 4.8 ± Total 12.4 ± Table 22. Flight height (average ± typical deviation, expressed in metres) and percentage of crossings depending on the categorization of the flight height. Cat I: flight height <0 m. Cat II: 0<flight height<5.3 m. Cat III: 5.3<flight height<8.5 m. Cat IV: flight height>8.5 m. 13 species were identified using the infrastructure, adding up between all the registrations a total 85 specimens and 123 minutes of observation. The most frequent species was the common linnet, with 15 detected specimens and 21.3 minutes of use, mainly on the slopes of the HSL: Common kestrel Scientific ame Falco tinnunculus vig t vig cat t cat pla t pla pos t pos Crested lark Galerida cristata Black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Carrion crow Corvus corone Sardinian warbler Sylvia melanocephala House sparrow Passer slo t slo fen t fen tot t tot 19

20 Eurasian tree sparrow European goldfinch White wagtail Scientific ame domesticus Passer montanus Carduelis carduelis vig t vig cat t cat pla t pla pos t pos Motacilla alba slo t slo fen t fen tot t tot Rock dove Columba livia Common linnet European stonechat Carduelis cannabina Saxicola rubicola Eurasian magpie Pica pica Total Table 23. umber of individuals and time of use (expressed in minutes) of the infrastructure by the birds. cat: no. of individuals in catenary. t cat: time of use in catenary. pas: no. individuals in passageways. t pas: time of use in passageways. pla: no. individuals in embankment. t pla: time of use in embankment. pos: no. individuals in posts. t pos: time of use in posts. fen: no. individuals in fencing. t fen: time of use in fencing. tot: total number of individuals. t tot: total time of use. In stretch ST5 (HSL Palencia León, Vega del Esla) the data were grouped in two study substretches (i) sampling stations performed in the viaduct over river Esla and nearby, and (ii) stations performed in viaducts over highway A 231 and the Valdearcos creek and nearby. In the first stretch (i), 23 bird species were observed crossing over the track, adding up 71 crossings and 479 individuals. The global crossing frequency was crossings/km hour and birds/km hour. Carrion crows and great cormorants were the species for which a highest number of registrations were obtained, with 9.82 crossings/km hour and birds/km hour for the first and 8.04 crossings/km hour and birds/km hours for the second one. The average flight height for all the observations was 30.0 m, varying between the m of the great cormorant and under 3 m of the black redstart (1.3 m), the European robin (1.5 m), the willow warbler (2.0 m) and the common chaffinch (2.0 m). 29.2% of the contacts were registered between 0 m and 8.5 m: Scientific ame o. F crossings o. ind F ind. Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo crossings Carrion crow Corvus corone Total Table 24. Frequency of crossing of the 2 most significant species over HSL. o. crossings: number of crossing events over HSL. F crossings: frequency of crossing events over HSL (no. crossings/1000 m of HSL and 1 hour of observation). o. ind: number of individuals crossing over the HSL. F ind: frequency of individuals crossing over the HSL (no. individuals/1000 m of HSL and 1 hour of observation). 20

21 Scientific ame Flight Height ± DT Cat I Cat II Cat III Cat IV Eurasian hobby Falco subbuteo 47.5 ± Meadow pipit Anthus pratensis 5.5 ± Common buzzard Buteo buteo 21.9 ± Great tit Parus major 20.0 ± Common kestrel Falco tinnunculus 8.1 ± Black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 1.3 ± Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo ± Carrion crow Corvus corone 9.0 ± Common raven Corvus corax 10.0 ± Short toed snake Circaetus gallicus 25.0 ± Spotless starling Sturnus unicolor 17.5 ± Little egret Egretta garzetta 80.0 ± Eurasian Accipiter nisus 22.5 ± House sparrow Passer domesticus 4.0 ± Rook Corvus frugilegus 45.0 ± European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 10.0 ± Willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 2.0 ± Rock dove Columba livia 9.7 ± Common wood Columba palumbus 29.1 ± Passerine s.i ± European robin Erithacus rubecula 1.5 ± Common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 2.0 ± European green Picus viridis 10.0 ± European serin Serinus serinus 10.1 ± Total 30.0 ± Table 25. Flight height (average ± typical deviation, expressed in metres) and percentage of crossings depending on the categorization of the flight height. Cat I: flight height <0 m. Cat II: 0<flight height<5.3 m. Cat III: 5.3<flight height<8.5 m. Cat IV: flight height>8.5 m. Black redstarts, carrion crows, rock sparrow, European robins and European serins were detected making use of the infrastructure, adding up between the five species 61 individuals and 98.3 minutes of use: Scientific ame cat t cat Black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros pan t pan slo t slo fen t fen tot t tot

22 Scientific ame cat t cat pan t pan slo t slo fen t fen tot t tot Carrion crow Corvus corone Rock sparrow Petronia petronia European robin Erithacus rubecula European serin Serinus serinus Total Table 26. umber of individuals and time of use (expressed in minutes) of the infrastructure by the birds. slo: no. individuals in slopes. t slo: time of use in slopes. fen: no. individuals in fencing. t fem: time of use in fencing. tot: total number of individuals. t tot: total time of use. In the second sub stretch (ii), a total 76 crossing events over HSL were registered, corresponding to the passing of 869 specimens of 14 bird species. The global crossing frequency was crossings/km hour ( birds/km hour). The species with the most observations were the carrion crow (12.96 crossings/km hour and birds/km hour) and the European serin (11.11 crossings/km hour and birds/km hour), and it is remarkable as well the passing of mallards (7.41 crossings/km hour and birds/km hour) and common buzzards (5.56 crossings/km hour and 6.84 birds/km hour). The average flight height was 9.5 m with maximum values for the cases of mallard (24.5 m), little egret (20.0 m) and common wood pigeon (18.3 m). In the opposite end, European goldfinches, house sparrows and common linnet displayed average flight height values under 5.0 m. In 61.0% of observations, the registered crossing height was between 0 m and 8.5 m (risk of collision with rolling material or catenary): Scientific ame o. F crossings o. ind F ind. crossings Common buzzard Buteo buteo Carrion crow Corvus corone European serin Serinus serinus Total Table 27. Frequency of crossing of the 3 most significant species over HSL. o. crossings: number of crossing events over HSL. F crossings: frequency of crossing events over HSL (no. crossings/1000 m of HSL and 1 hour of observation). o. ind: number of individuals crossing over the HSL. F ind: frequency of individuals crossing over the HSL (no. individuals/1000 m of HSL and 1 hour of observation). 22

23 Scientific ame Flight Height ± DT Cat I Cat II Cat III Cat IV Western marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus 6.3 ± Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 24.5 ± Meadow pipit Anthus pratensis 8.9 ± Common buzzard Buteo buteo 9.8 ± Carrion crow Corvus corone 7.9 ± Merlin Falco columbarius 5.0 ± Little egret Egretta garzetta 20.0 ± House sparrow Passer domesticus 3.5 ± European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 3.1 ± Common wood Columba palumbus 18.3 ± Common linnet Carduelis cannabina 4.5 ± Passerine s.i ± European serin Serinus serinus 5.6 ± Eurasian magpie Pica pica 9.0 ± Total 9.5 ± Table 28. Flight height (average ± typical deviation, expressed in metres) and percentage of crossings depending on the categorization of the flight height. Cat I: flight height <0 m. Cat II: 0<flight height<5.3 m. Cat III: 5.3<flight height<8.5 m. Cat IV: flight height>8.5 m. 9 bird species were identified making some type of use of the infrastructure, adding up 109 individuals and 97.3 minutes of observation. The highest amount of contacts belonged to the European serin (60 birds, 10.0 minutes) and the meadow pipit (30 birds, 8.8 minutes). The most used elements of the infrastructure were the posts, with a total 43.0 minutes: Meadow pipit Common buzzard Common kestrel Black redstart Carrion crow House sparrow White wagtail European serin Eurasian magpie Scientific ame Anthus pratensis cat t cat han t han pla t pla pos Buteo buteo Falco tinnunculus Phoenicurus ochruros Corvus corone Passer domesticus Motacilla alba Serinus serinus Pica pica t pos slo t slo fen t fen tot t tot 23

24 Scientific ame cat t cat han t han pla Total Table 29. umber of individuals and time of use (expressed in minutes) of the infrastructure by the birds. pil: no. individuals in viaduct pillars. t pas: time of use in viaduct pillars. pla: no. individuals in embankment. t pla: time of use in embankment. pos: no. individuals in posts. t pos: time of use in posts. slo: no. individuals in slopes. t slo: time of use in slopes. han V: no. individuals in the viaduct handrails. t han V: time of use in viaduct handrails. fen: no. individuals in fencing. t fen: time of use in fencing. tot: total number of individuals. t tot: total time of use. t pla pos t pos slo t slo fen t fen tot t tot In stretch ST5, Control 1 (HSL Palencia León, valle del Bernesga), the number of registered crossings increased up to 26, which means a frequency of crossings/km hour (19.35 birds/km hour), being the grey wagtail and the white wagtail the species with a highest number of observations (2.15 crossings/km hours for both; 3.23 and 2.69 birds/km hour, respectively): Scientific ame o. F crossings o. ind F individuals White wagtail Motacilla alba crossings Grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea Total Table 30. Frequency of crossing of the 2 most significant species over HSL. o. crossings: number of crossing events over HSL. F crossings: frequency of crossing events over HSL (no. crossings/1000 m of HSL and 1 hour of observation). o. ind: number of individuals crossing over the HSL. F ind: frequency of individuals crossing over the HSL (no. individuals/1000 m of HSL and 1 hour of observation). The average flight height for the assembly of the observations was 13.4 m, with a range varying between 40m in the case of the great cormorant, and the 3.0 m of the white wagtail. 34.6% of the registered crossings were performed over the 8.5 m, 34.6% between 0 and 8.5 m, and the 30,8% left under the viaduct. Scientific ame Flight Height ± DT Cat I Cat II Cat III Cat IV Eurasian jay Garrulus glandarius 21.0 ± Eurasian crag martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris 16.0 ± Great tit Parus major 8.0 ± Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 40.0 ± Carrion crow Corvus corone 14.5 ± Rock bunting Emberiza cia 15.0 ± House sparrow Passer domesticus 7.0 ±

25 Scientific ame Flight Height ± DT Cat I Cat II Cat III Cat IV White wagtail Motacilla alba 3.0 ± Grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea ± White throated dipper Cinclus cinclus ± European robin Erithacus rubecula ± Great spotted Dendrocopos major 30.0 ± Common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 7.3 ± European greenfinch Chloris chloris ± Total 13.4 ± Table 31. Flight height (average ± typical deviation, expressed in metres) and percentage of crossings depending on the categorization of the flight height. Cat I: flight height <0 m. Cat II: 0<flight height<5.3 m. Cat III: 5.3<flight height<8.5 m. Cat IV: flight height>8.5 m. The use of the elements of the infrastructure was increased up to minutes, for a total of 52 specimens of great tit, black redstart, white wagtail and European serin: Scientific ame pla t pla han t han tot t tot Great tit Parus major Black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros White wagtail Motacilla alba European serin Serinus serinus Total Table 32. umber of individuals and time of use (expressed in minutes) of the infrastructure by the birds. pla: no. individuals in embankment. t pla: time of use in embankment. han V: no. individuals in the viaduct handrails. t han V: time of use in viaduct handrails. tot: total number of individuals. t tot: total time of use. In stretch ST5, Control 2 (HSL Palencia León, valle del Bernesga), the crossing of 87 birds belonging to 13 species was registered, estimating frequencies of crossings/km hour and birds/km hour. The species with a higher amount of observations were rock dove (3.29 crossings/km hour; 8.55 birds/km hour) and common raven (1.64 crossings/km hour; 2.30 birds/km hour): Scientific ame o. F o. ind F ind. Common raven Corvus corax crossings 5 crossings Rock dove Columba livia Total Table 33. Frequency of crossing of the 2 most significant species over HSL. o. crossings: number of crossing events over HSL. F crossings: frequency of crossing events over HSL (no. crossings/1000 m of HSL and 1 hour of observation). o. ind: number of individuals crossing over the 25