Electrocution in power lines is one of the main causes of mortality in the threatened Bonelli’s eagle. Armamar-Recarei high voltage power line crosses a Bonelli’s eagle territory thus conditioning this project’s approval to the execution of an action plan to safeguard the Bonelli’s eagle’s breeding pair. A long-term post-construction monitoring programme is also under way together with habitat management techniques and raising awareness among the hunters community to the importance of protecting this species.
The action plan consists of habitat management, including building artificial shelters for rabbits and partridges (two of the eagle’s main prey), and involving the hunters community in an environmental awareness campaign. The monitoring program focuses on the census of bird communities in the power line area, estimation of bird mortality caused by the power line and study of use of space and breeding success of the Bonelli’s eagles breeding pair.