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Effects of Wind and Solar Energy Development on Wildlife Completed

By Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center November 9, 2017

This research theme informs adaptive management and siting decsions in relation to bats at wind and solar power-generation facilities.

Research projects are focused on minimizing negative impacts to wildlife from wind and solar energy siting, development, and operation. Our research develops, tests, and implements research and monitoring strategies to better assess the multi-scaled influence of resource development on ecosystems and to provide statistically sound information to land managers for mitigation and adaptive management.

The goals are to:

  • Develop tools, technologies, and capabilities to inform resource management decisions
  • Apply science to enhance strategies for management, conservation, and restoration

 

Click on the News tab to learn about our current projects and recent publications.

 

Click here to return to FRESC Wind Energy and Wildlife Team page.

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Filter Total Items: 16

A comment on "bats killed in large numbers at United States wind energy facilities"

Widespread reports of bat fatalities caused by wind turbines have raised concerns about the impacts of wind power development. Reliable estimates of the total number killed and the potential effects on populations are needed, but it is crucial that they be based on sound data. In a recent BioScience article, Hayes (2013) estimated that over 600,000 bats were killed at wind turbines in the United
Authors
Manuela M.P. Huso, Dan Dalthorp
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Accounting for unsearched areas in estimating wind turbine-caused fatality

With wind energy production expanding rapidly, concerns about turbine-induced bird and bat fatality have grown and the demand for accurate estimation of fatality is increasing. Estimation typically involves counting carcasses observed below turbines and adjusting counts by estimated detection probabilities. Three primary sources of imperfect detection are 1) carcasses fall into unsearched areas, 2
Authors
Manuela M.P. Huso, Dan Dalthorp
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Evaluating the effectiveness of an ultrasonic acoustic deterrent for reducing bat fatalities at wind turbines

Large numbers of bats are killed by wind turbines worldwide and minimizing fatalities is critically important to bat conservation and acceptance of wind energy development. We implemented a 2-year study testing the effectiveness of an ultrasonic acoustic deterrent for reducing bat fatalities at a wind energy facility in Pennsylvania. We randomly selected control and treatment turbines that were se
Authors
Edward B. Arnett, Cris D. Hein, Michael R. Schirmacher, Manuela M.P. Huso, Joseph M. Szewczak
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

A comment on "Novel scavenger removal trials increase wind turbine-caused avian fatality estimates"

In a recent paper, Smallwood et al. (2010) conducted a study to compare their “novel” approach to conducting carcass removal trials with what they term the “conventional” approach and to evaluate the effects of the different methods on estimated avian fatality at a wind power facility in California. A quick glance at Table 3 that succinctly summarizes their results and provides estimated fatality
Authors
Manuela M.P. Huso, Wallace P. Erickson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.