Abstract
This report presents the results of a radar and visual study of bird and bat migration conducted during 5 August - 3 October 2004 at the proposed Flat Rock Wind Power project, located in the Tug-Hill Plateau of northern New York, in Lewis County. Radar and visual observations were conducted for ~6.5 h/night during 60 nights during the fall.
The primary goal of this study was to collect information on the migration characteristics of nocturnally migrating birds, (especially passerines) and bats during the fall-migration period to provide an overall assessment of potential project-related impacts to birds and bats. Specifically, the objectives of this study were to: (1) collect baseline information on migration characteristics (i.e., flight direction, migration passage rates, flight altitudes) of nocturnally migrating birds and bats; (2) visually estimate the number and relative proportions of birds and bats within the potential rotor-swept area of the proposed wind turbines; and (3) determine the number of birds and bats that would pass within the rotor-swept area of the proposed wind turbines during the migratory season.