Abstract
The overall objective of the project is to increase our understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of nocturnal bird and bat migration through the Appalachians, so that informed and scientifically sound recommendations can be made to reduce the risk to migrants of proposed and operational wind power projects.
Specific objectives include:
- Document broad-scale spatiotemporal patterns of nocturnal migration through the Central Appalachians.
- Document site-specific passage rates/densities, flight direction, and flight altitudes of migrating birds and bats during fall and spring at multiple locations in the Appalachian Mountain region of the Mid-Atlantic states.
- Obtain information on the identity and relative abundance at each location of bird species that call while migrating.
- Model the effects of weather, topography, land cover, or other variables on migrant densities and flight characteristics.
- Map observed and predicted migrant densities for the region to identify locations and weather conditions where/when migrants might be at risk from wind power development.