Proceedings of the Wind-Wildlife Research Meeting XI

Conference Paper

Title: Proceedings of the Wind-Wildlife Research Meeting XI

Author:

Schwartz, S.

Publication Date:

May 1, 2017

Event Name:

Wind Wildlife Research Meeting XI

Event Location:

Broomfield, Colorado, USA

Pages:

164

Publisher:

American Wind Wildlife Institute

Affiliation

National Wind Coordinating Collaborative, American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI)

Technology:

Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind

Stressor:

Collision

Document Access

Attachment:

Access File

Citation

Schwartz, S. (2017). Proceedings of the Wind-Wildlife Research Meeting XI. Paper presented at Wind Wildlife Research Meeting XI, Broomfield, Colorado, USA.

Download Citation File

Abstract

The biennial Wind Wildlife Research Meeting provides an internationally recognized forum for researchers and wind-wildlife stakeholders to hear contributed papers, view research posters, and listen to panels that synthesize the most recent wind power-related wildlife research. Academics, researchers, conservation scientists, consultants, federal and state officials, NGO representatives, and wind industry professionals come together every other year for this unique opportunity. The meeting is organized and presented by the American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI).

Wind energy’s ability to generate electricity without carbon emissions will help reduce the potentially catastrophic effects of unlimited climate change on wildlife. Wind energy also provides several other environmental benefits including substantially reduced water withdrawals and consumption, mercury emissions, and other sources of air and water pollution associated with burning fossil fuels. Adverse impacts of wind energy facilities to wildlife, particularly to individual birds and bats, have been documented. Impacts to wildlife populations have not been documented, but the potential for biologically significant impacts continue to be a source of concern for some species that are experiencing long-term declines because of habitat loss and fragmentation, disease, non-native invasive species, and increased mortality from numerous anthropogenic activities. These proceedings document current research pertaining to wind energy and wildlife impacts and innovations in technologies and methods to address these impacts, including: understanding risk, demographic impacts, fatality estimation, detection and deterrence technologies, and impact minimization and mitigation. Because of concentrated investment in detection and deterrent technologies, presentations documented progress being made to minimize impacts in a meaningful way.

Topics Covered in these Proceedings:

Framework for Policy Questions Going Forward
Raptors & Wind Energy: Lessons Learned from Altamont, Estimating Origins & Fatalities
- U.S. Raptor Mortality Estimates from Wind Energy for the U.S. - Presented by: Wallace Erickson, Western EcoSystems Technology (WEST), Inc.
- Scientific Insights and Lessons Learned from the 9-year Monitoring Program in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area - Presented by: Douglas Leslie, ICF International
Golden Eagles & Wind Energy: Prediciting Interactions, Migratory Corridors & Range, & More
- Response of Golden Eagle Flight Altitude to Topographic Variation in California and Implications for Potential for Wind-Wildlife Interactions - Presented by: Adam Duerr, Division of Forestry & Natural Resources, West Virginia University
- Genomic Resources for the Management and Conservation of Bald and Golden Eagles - Presented by: Ronald Van Den Bussche, Oklahoma State University
- Golden Eagle Migration Corridors along the Rocky Mountain Front and Intermountain Flyways - Presented by: Adam Shreading, Raptor View Research Institute
- Evaluating and Adapting Surveys designed to Predict Wind-Wildlife Interactions: a Simulation Approach Focused on Golden Eagles - Presented by: Todd Katzner, USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
- Overview of USFWS Western Golden Eagle Team Risk Assessment and Conservation Planning Program - Presented by: Brian Woodbridge, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Using Modeling to Inform Siting of Wind Energy at a Landscape Scale
- Low Ecological Risk Wind Energy Development Areas Analysis - Presented by: Jim Hays, The Nature Conservancy
- Using a Landscape Design Conservation Planning Process to Assess and Plan for Wind Energy Development in the Western Great Plains, USA - Presented by: Anne Bartuszevige, Playa Lakes Joint Venture
Offshore Wind Energy
- Exploring the Displacement of Seabirds from Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs) - Presented by: Fraser Carter, Joint Nature Conservation Committee
- Responses of Marine Top Predators to an Offshore Wind Farm in UK Waters: Does Evidence Exist for Displacement? - Presented by: Nancy McLean, Natural Power
- Collision and Displacement Vulnerability among Marine Birds of the California Current System Associated with Offshore Wind Energy Infrastructure - Presented by: Emma C. Kelsey, U.S. Geological Survey
- Satellite Tracking Highlights Use of Ocean Habitat by Diving Bird Species in Federal Waters of the US Mid-Atlantic - Presented by: Alicia Berlin, U.S. Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
- Bats at Sea: A Final 6-Year Summary of Bat Monitoring on Islands, Offshore Structures, and Coastal Sites in the Gulf of Maine, Mid-Atlantic States, and Great Lakes Regions - Presented by: Steve Pelletier, Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.
Innovative Approaches to Fatality Monitoring
- Challenges with the Multitude of Fatality Estimators and the Need for a Generalized Estimator - Presented by: Cris Hein, Bat Conservation International
- Area Correction Methods for Efficient Post-Construction Fatality Monitoring Studies - Presented by: Daniel Riser-Espinoza, Western EcoSystems Technology (WEST), Inc.
- Developing an Operations Staff-Based Monitoring Protocol for Eagle Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities - Presented by: Paul Rabie, Western EcoSystems Technology (WEST), Inc.
- Wildlife Monitoring and Reporting System using Operations Personnel: 5-year Assessment - Presented by: Laura Nagy, Avangrid Renewables
Operational Mitigation: Strategies to Minimize Bat Fatalities
- Bats in the Rotor Zone...Managing Risk with Acoustics - Presented by: Trevor Peterson, Stantec Consulting Services Inc.; University of Maine
- Acoustic Bat Monitoring at a Southern Alberta Wind Farm - Presented by: Katrina Lukianchuk, Tannas Conservation Services Ltd.
- Turbine Integrated Mortality Reduction for Bats - Presented by: Christine Sutter, Normandeau Associates
- Smart Curtailment: Improving Efficiency by Using More Than Wind Speed - Presented by: Manuela Huso, U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
- Multi-year Operational Minimization Study in West Virginia: Potential Novel Strategy to Reducing Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines - Presented by: Michael Schirmacher, Bat Conservation International
Examining Species' Responses & Vulnerability to Wind Energy
- An Evaluation of Potential Pronghorn Responses to Wind Energy Development in North-Central Arizona - Presented by: Martin Piorkowski, Arizona Game and Fish Department
- Modeling the Impact of Wind Energy on Hoary Bat Populations - Presented by: Erin Baerwald, University of Calgary and American Wind Wildlife Institute
- The Effects of a Wind Energy Development on a Greater Sage-Grouse Population - Presented by: Chad LeBeau, Western EcoSystems Technology (WEST), Inc.
Furthering Understanding of Siting & Assessment
- Avian Mortality at Three Wind Energy Facilities on the Gulf Coast of Texas - Presented by: Elizabeth Baumgartner, Western EcoSystems Technology (WEST), Inc.
- Challenges in Quantifying the Effectiveness of Impact Avoidance and Minimization Measures and Potential Solutions - Presented by: Julie Garvin, Tetra Tech
- Managing Wind Farms – What is the Role of Adaptive Management? - Presented by: Andrea Copping, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Endangered Species Risk & Impact Estimation
- Flight Response to Topographic, Vegetative, and Temporal Correlates Predicts Risk from Wind Turbines to an Obligate-Soaring Bird, the California Condor - Presented by: Sharon Poessel, U.S. Geological Survey
- Spring Migration of Indiana Bats (Myotis sodalis) and What It Means for the Wind Industry - Presented by: Piper Roby, Copperhead Environmental Consulting, Inc.
- Estimating Inter-annual Variability in Project Take for Rare Events - Presented by: Jonathan Plissner, Tetra Tech
Using Advanced Technologies to Study and Minimize Impacts
- Stereo-optic High Definition Imaging: A Technology to Understand Bird Avoidance of Wind Turbines - Presented by: Evan Adams, Biodiversity Research Institute
- Heterogeneous Sensor Fusion for Autonomous Detection of Wildlife Collisions with Wind Turbines - Presented by: Roberto Albertani, Oregon State University
- Ultraviolet Illumination as a Means of Reducing Bat Activity at Wind Turbines - Presenter: Paul Cryan, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center
- Reduction of Eagle Take at Windfarms through Machine Vision Enhanced Informed Curtailment - Presented by: Tom Hiester, Renewable Energy Systems
Research Priorities & Key Meeting Takeaways

Disclaimer: Some of the presentations described in the Proceedings of the Wind Wildlife Research Meeting XI may have been peer-reviewed independent of this meeting, but results should be considered preliminary. Information presented in this document may be cited, although communication with the author before doing so is highly recommended to ensure that the information cited is current. These proceedings do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Wind Wildlife Institute or the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative. AWWI expressly disclaims any warranties or guarantees, expressed or implied, and shall not be liable for damages of any kind in connection with the material, information, techniques, or procedures set forth in this publication.