Birds in open pipes - 1/2/2012

Awareness is being raised about how birds could potentially be negatively impacted/die by becoming trapped in exposed/open pipes. Some pipes are fairly narrow in diameter such as the pvc poles we use quite regularly for research or other marking purposes in Refuges and other conservation areas. In particular, poles such as these are often used in wetland areas as markers, although we know that some wildlife actually use pvc poles for shelter, such as tree frogs throughout Florida. This phenomenon also occurred during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill with pelicans falling into larger pipes and their inability to exit.  However, in this case, it would be smaller pipes potentially having the same negative impacts.

Consider passing on to your staff that when using open pipes/poles that they periodically be checked to see if we may be experiencing something similar and just don't know - especially if there are cavity nesting bird species in the vicinity and of the appropriate size that may attempt to use the poles. Or consider switching to using sealed or capped poles. Please pass this caution on to other programs, field personnel, or reviewers for projects that may use pipes such as these.   Read more at:

http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/111122.html.