Preventing electrocution and collisions between birds and power lines : this is the goal of the proposal unanimously approved by the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces , at the initiative of the Sardinia Region, and addressed to the Government and the Ministry of the Environment for the introduction of dedicated national legislation . This measure aims to protect wildlife, often belonging to protected or endangered species, and at the same time reduce the risk of fires caused by animals that, after being electrocuted, fall to the ground in flames.
Bird electrocution occurs when a bird simultaneously comes into contact with two live wires or a conductor and a grounded metal part of a support structure. This contact causes an electric current to pass through the bird's body, causing death by electric shock. In many cases, the electrical discharge is so intense that it instantly ignites the bird's plumage, which, falling to the ground still ablaze, can become a source of ignition for wildfires. Such events frequently occur in rural and remote areas, making spotting and first responders particularly difficult.
Electrocution therefore represents a dual emergency : on the one hand, it is a major threat to the conservation of numerous species of birds of prey and other birds of high conservation value; on the other, it represents a significant risk factor for the ignition and spread of forest fires. Data collected across the region highlight the severity of the phenomenon. In the last quarter of 2025 alone, seven individuals belonging to particularly protected species were confirmed to have died from electrocution in Sardinia: three griffon vultures, two Bonelli's eagles, a golden eagle, and a Sardinian goshawk.
These are extremely significant losses that risk compromising the results achieved through the complex and costly conservation and repopulation programs implemented under the LIFE projects funded by the European Union. Even in the early stages of the 2026 Fire Prevention Campaign, several fires related to bird electrocution have already been recorded, confirming the need to adopt structural and uniform measures at the national level to mitigate the risk.
