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Synthesis and Comparison of Baseline Avian and Bat Use, Raptor Nesting and Mortality Information from Proposed and Existing Wind Developments

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Synthesis and Comparison of Baseline Avian and Bat Use, Raptor Nesting and Mortality Information from Proposed and Existing Wind Developments Synthesis and Comparison of Baseline Avian and Bat Use, Raptor Nesting and Mortality Information from Proposed and Existing Wind Developments FINAL Prepared for: Bonneville Power Administration PO Box 3621 Portland, Oregon 97208-3621 Prepared by: Wally Erickson Greg Johnson David Young Dale Strickland Rhett Good Michelle Bourassa Kim Bay Karyn Sernka WEST, Inc. 2003 Central Ave. Cheyenne, WY 82001 Foote Creek Rim, WY. photo by David Young December 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 10 METHODS .................................................................................................................................. 13 AVIAN MORTALITY ............................................................................................................. 13 AVIAN USE ............................................................................................................................. 13 RAPTOR NESTING................................................................................................................. 15 BAT USE AND MORTALITY................................................................................................ 16 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................................................................................. 16 AVIAN MORTALITY AND USE........................................................................................... 16 All Raptors/Vultures ............................................................................................................... 19 Agricultural Landscapes ................................................................................................... 19 Native Landscapes ............................................................................................................ 20 Summary/Impact Prediction ............................................................................................. 21 Buteos ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Agricultural Landscapes ................................................................................................... 22 Native Landscapes ............................................................................................................ 23 Summary/Impact Prediction ............................................................................................. 23 Golden Eagles ......................................................................................................................... 24 Agricultural Landscapes ................................................................................................... 24 Native Landscapes ............................................................................................................ 24 Summary/Impact Prediction ............................................................................................. 26 Large Falcons.......................................................................................................................... 27 Agricultural Landscapes ................................................................................................... 27 Native Landscapes ............................................................................................................ 27 Summary/Impact Prediction ............................................................................................. 27 Small Falcons.......................................................................................................................... 28 Agricultural Landscapes ................................................................................................... 29 Native Landscapes ............................................................................................................ 29 Summary/Impact Prediction ............................................................................................. 29 Northern Harriers.................................................................................................................... 30 Agricultural Landscapes ................................................................................................... 30 Native Landscapes ............................................................................................................ 30 Summary/Impact Prediction ............................................................................................. 31 Accipiters ................................................................................................................................ 31 Agricultural Landscapes ................................................................................................... 31 Native Landscapes ............................................................................................................ 32 Summary/Impact Prediction ............................................................................................. 32 Waterfowl/Waterbirds............................................................................................................. 32 Agricultural Landscapes ................................................................................................... 32 Native Landscapes ............................................................................................................ 33 AVIAN AND BAT BASELINE DATA AND MORTALITY SYNTHESIS WEST, Inc. i Summary/Impact Prediction ............................................................................................. 33 Passerines................................................................................................................................ 34 Other Species/Bird Groups ..................................................................................................... 36 RAPTOR NESTING................................................................................................................. 36 BAT MORTALITY AND USE AT WIND PLANTS ............................................................. 37 OVERALL CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................... 46 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................... 49 LITERATURE CITED .............................................................................................................. 50 APPENDIX A. REVIEWERS COMMENTS AND RESPONSES...................................... 109 AVIAN AND BAT BASELINE DATA AND MORTALITY SYNTHESIS WEST, Inc. ii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. List of studies/study areas and data components used in this report for sites categorized as within agricultural landscapes.................................................................... 61 Table 2. List of studies/study areas and data components used in this report for sites categorized as within predominantly native landscapes. ................................................... 62 Table 3. Description of raptor nest survey methods for relevant study areas........................ 63 Table 4. Description of study areas of avian mortality used for species composition or fatality estimates................................................................................................................. 64 Table 5. Composition of fatalities from U.S. wind projects. ................................................. 66 Table 6. Estimates of avian collision mortality by wind resource areas................................ 67 Table 7. Mean raptor/vultures use estimates (estimated #/20-min survey) by study areas. .. 68 Table 8. Pearson correlations among all raptor/vulture seasonal use estimates. ................... 69 Table 9. Mean buteo use estimates (estimated #/20-min survey) for several study areas..... 70 Table 10. Pearson correlations among buteo seasonal use estimates. ................................... 71 Table 11. Mean golden eagle use estimates (estimated #/20-min survey) for several study areas. .................................................................................................................................. 72 Table 12. Pearson correlations among golden eagle seasonal use estimates......................... 73 Table 13. Mean large falcon use estimates (estimated #/20-min survey) for several study areas. .................................................................................................................................. 74 Table 14. Pearson correlations among large falcon seasonal use estimates. ......................... 75 Table 15. Mean small falcon use estimates (estimated #/20-min survey) for several study areas. .................................................................................................................................. 76 Table 16. Pearson correlations among small falcon seasonal use estimates.......................... 77 Table 17. Mean northern harrier use estimates (estimated #/20-min survey) for several study areas. .................................................................................................................................. 78 Table 18. Pearson correlations among northern harrier seasonal use estimates.................... 79 Table 19. Mean accipiter
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