Abstract
A breeding bird study was conducted at the proposed Flat Rock Wind Power Project in Lewis County, New York. The study was conducted after a project-specific avian risk assessment recommended that such studies be conducted to determine whether federal or New York State listed species or New York State species of special concern were present. The study also focused on determining whether there were likely to be impacts to listed or common species resulting from construction of the wind power project. The object of the study was to identify the species, numbers of individuals, and distribution of those birds in the areas where turbines are being proposed. A total of 49 point counts were established and a GPS location recorded for each point. All point count locations were surveyed three times between June 26 and July 1, 2003, for a period of 5 minutes during which all birds seen or heard were recorded. Also recorded were the distance and direction of each bird from the observer. Surveys were commenced at around 04:45 hours and continued until about 10:00 hours. In addition, a species list was assembled of all birds observed incidental to the point counts. This was done to insure that all species that might nest within the project boundary were found. These incidental surveys were done on the same days as the point counts as well as on three additional days (June 20-22, 2003) while the habitat was assessed and point count locations were established.