On-Board Video Recording Unravels Bird Behavior and Mortality Produced by High-Speed Trains

摘要: Large high-speed railway (HSR) networks are planned for the near future to accomplish increased transport demand with low energy consumption. However, trains produce unknown avian mortality due birds using and being unable avoid approaching trains. Safety logistic difficulties have precluded until now estimation in railways through carcass removal, but information technologies can overcome such problems. We present results obtained an experimental on-board system record bird-train collisions composed by a frontal recording camera, GPS navigation data storage unit. An observer standing cabin behind driver controlled filled out form of bird observations front train. Photographs train taken before after each journey were used improve killed birds. Trains running 321.7 km line between Madrid Albacete (Spain) at speeds up 250-300 km/h equipped during 66 journeys along year, totaling approximately 14,700 effective recording. The review videos produced 1,090 observations, 29.4% them corresponding crossing infrastructure under catenary thus facing collision risk. Recordings also showed that 37.7% crossings animals resting on some element moments arrival, flight initiation distance (mean ± SD) was 60±33 m (passerines) 136±49 (raptors). Mortality estimated be 60.5 birds/km year section 53 runs per day 26.1 25 day. Our first published HSR show potential yield useful monitoring impact via systems. Moreover, recordings point use as key issue leading train-kill.