Proceedings of Wildlife Research Meeting VI
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Abstract These Workshop Proceedings include detailed summaries of the presentations made and the discussions that followed. Suggested Citation Format: This volume: Proceedings of Onshore Wildlife InteraionsProceedings with Wind Developments: Research Meeting V. Lansdowne, VA. November 3-4, 2004. Prepared by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, D.C., Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed. DATE. You can order this setNWCC of proceedings Wildlife by contacting: Workgroup RESOLVE by phone: 202 965-6218 Attn: Detra StoddardResearch Planningby email: [email protected] VI 1255 23rd St, NW Suite 275 San Antonio, Texas Washington, DC 20037 November 14-15, 2006 Organized by The National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Wildlife Workgroup Meeting Facilitated by RESOLVE, Inc. Washington, DC March 2007 Suggested Citation Format This volume: PNWWRPM VI. 2007. Proceedings of the NWCC Wildlife Workgroup Research Planning Meeting VI. San Antonio, TX November 14-15, 2006. Prepared for the Wildlife Workgroup of the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed. 138 pp. Preceding volumes: POWIWD-V. 2005. Proceedings of the Onshore Wildlife Interactions with Wind Developments: Research Meeting V. Lansdowne, VA November 3-4, 2004. Prepared for the Wildlife Subcommittee of the National Wind Coordinating Committee by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed. 120 pp. PNAWPPM-IV. 2001. Proceedings of the National Avian-Wind Power Planning Meeting IV, Carmel, CA, May 16-17, 2000. Prepared for the Avian Subcommittee of the National Wind Coordinating Committee by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed., 179 pp. PNAWPPM-III. 2000. Proceedings of the National Avian-Wind Power Planning Meeting III, San Diego, CA, May 1998. Prepared for the Avian Subcommittee of the National Wind Coordinating Committee by LGL, Ltd., King City, Ont., 202 pp. PNAWPPM-II. 1996. Proceedings of the National Avian-Wind Power Planning Meeting II, Palm Springs, CA, September 1995. Prepared for the Avian Subcommittee of the National Wind Coordinating Committee by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, and LGL, Ltd., King City, Ont., 152 pp. PNAWPPM. 1995. Proceedings of the National Avian-Wind Power Planning Meeting IV, Denver, CO, July 1994. Repot DE95-004090. RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, and LGL, Ltd., King City, Ont., 145 pp. Ordering Information These Proceedings are available in PDF format with accompanying powerpoint presentations available as separate files. Proceedings may be ordered on CD from the NWCC c/o RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC: [email protected] or by calling: (888) 764-WIND. They may also be downloaded from the NWCC website: www.nationalwind.org NWCC WILDLIFE WORKGROUP RESEARCH PLANNING MEETING VI ii Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................ii Suggested Citation Format: ....................................................................................... ii Table of Contents .......................................................................................................iii INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1 Objectives of the Meeting ........................................................................................... 1 Process Guidelines....................................................................................................... 1 Research Meeting Organizers and Presenters ......................................................... 2 SESSION I: INTERACTION OF WIND POWER FACILITIES AND BIRDS ......... 5 OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE KNOW UP TO 2004..................................................................... 5 WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED SINCE NOVEMBER 2004........................................................ 10 Pre-Construction Studies How to See the Invisible: Remote Techniques for Study of Offshore Bird Migration ....................................................................................................... 10 Designing Nocturnal Bird Migration Studies for Proposed Wind Energy Developments................................................................................................. 14 A Thermal Imaging and Vertically Pointing Fixed-Beam Radar Technique for Quantifying Bird Movements ...................................................................... 17 Toward Prediction of Bird-Rotor Collision Mortality .......................................... 21 Post-Construction Studies The Genetic Consequences of Wind Power Development on Greater Prairie Chicken Leks of Eastern Kansas ................................................................. 24 Based on Research Results: Questions to Address Effects of Wind Power Development on Sage-grouse............................................ 28 Impacts of Wind Power Development on Mountain Plovers at Foote Creek Rim ........................................................................................... 32 What Have Marine Radar Surveys Taught Us About Avian Risk Assessment? ................................................................................................... 34 Assessing Bird Movement Patterns on Cape May Peninsula Using Marine Radar ................................................................................................ 38 Effects of Modern Wind Turbines on Birds: Results of Field Studies on Collision Victims & Nocturnal Flight Patterns in the Netherlands.......... 41 RESPONDENT PANEL: WHAT NEW INSIGHTS HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT AVIAN / WIND INTERACTION? .................................................................................... 44 SESSION II: INTERACTION OF WIND POWER FACILITIES AND BATS........ 49 OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE KNOW UP TO 2004 .................................................................. 49 WHAT NEW STUDIES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED ON BATS AND WHAT DO THESE NEW STUDIES TELL US? ..................................................................................................... 54 NWCC WILDLIFE WORKGROUP RESEARCH PLANNING MEETING VI iii Pre-Construction Studies Patterns of Pre-Construction Bat Activity at Proposed Wind Energy Facilities ................................................................................ 54 Daily & Seasonal Patterns of Bat Activity along Central Appalachian Ridges ........................................................................ 57 Post-Construction Studies Bat Fatalities in Southern Alberta........................................................................... 60 Based on Research Results: Questions to Address Developing a Mitigation Strategy for Bat Impacts from Wind Power Development in Maryland............................................................................ 62 Migratory Behavior of Female Indiana Bats in New York and Implications for Wind Development.................................................................................. 64 Bat Migratory Behaviors and Routes in Pennsylvania and Maryland ................ 66 Evaluation of Acoustic Deterrents to Reduce Bat Fatality at Wind Facilities .... 68 Bat Likelihood Assessment Protocol for Collision Mortality at Potential Wind Farms .............................................................................. 71 RESPONDENT PANEL: WHAT NEW INSIGHTS HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT BAT / WIND INTERACTION?........................................................................... 73 SESSION III: APPLICABLE METHODS OF STUDY DESIGNS SPECIALIZED FOR BIRDS, BATS, AND COMMON TO BOTH ................................................ 76 Development of a Cost-Effective System to Monitor Wind Turbines for Bird and Bat Collisions, Phase I: Sensor System Feasibility Study .................. 76 Objectives, Uncertainties, and Biases in Mortality Studies at Wind Facilities ... 79 Pre-Construction Acoustic Surveys for Predicting Bat Fatality at Wind Farms: an Evaluation of Survey Protocols................................................. 83 Migration at Low Height over the Mountainous Areas of Vermont.................... 86 SESSION IV: MITIGATION OF WIND ENERGY IMPACTS.................................. 90 Presentation of Mitigation Toolbox (prepared by the NWCC Mitigation Toolbox Subgroup)....................................................................... 90 MITIGATION TOOLBOX RESPONDENT PANEL ........................................................... 92 LUNCH ADDRESS: DOCUMENTING THE EFFECTS OF WIND TURBINES ON BAT POPULATIONS USING GENETIC DATA .......................................... 97 SESSION VI: RISK ASSESSMENT, MANAGEMENT AND WIND POWER IN THE UNITED STATES.................................................................................... 101 Ecological Risk Assessment for Wind Energy Facilities ..................................... 101 Possible Ecological Consequences of Not Kicking our Fossil-Fuel Addiction... 105 TELECAST ADDRESS: ADAPTIVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.................... 108 SESSION VII: IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING CRITICAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES RELATED TO WIND PROJECT DECISION-MAKING......... 116 APPENDIX A: FINAL MEETING AGENDA............................................................. 119 APPENDIX B: FINAL PARTICIPANTS LIST .......................................................... 125 NWCC WILDLIFE WORKGROUP RESEARCH PLANNING MEETING VI iv INTRODUCTION This is the sixth in a series of meetings organized by the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC)’s Wildlife Workgroup (formerly the