Grouse and Land-Based Wind Energy Development in the United States

Ruffed Grouse

Several species of grouse occupy prairie and sagebrush habitat across the western United States. Sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), greater prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido), and lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) reside in the grassland prairies of the Great Plains. In the Intermountain West, greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) inhabit the expansive sagebrush plains (Johnsgard 2008). During the mating season, male grouse perform elaborate courtship displays in communal breeding areas known as leks. These areas are often used each year and tend to be large, open patches of land with minimal vegetation, offering greater visibility for males (Connelly et al. 2011). Female grouse create nests on the ground under sagebrush or within clumps of grass. Females can lay between 5 and 15 eggs depending on the species. Once hatched, chicks consume mostly insects, but shift their diets to primarily eat vegetation as they become adults (www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/). These grouse species require extensive, intact native habitats to complete their life cycle (Pruett et al. 2009a; Rowland et al. 2006; Sandercock et al. 2011; Wisdom et al. 2011). Given the close connection between grouse and their habitat, they are considered indicator species, or species whose presence indicates ecosystem health (Carlisle et al. 2018; Rowland et al. 2006).

Disturbance and alteration of habitat can result in abandonment of breeding and nesting grounds or delayed reproduction. Multiple stressors on grouse have resulted in population declines across their range. Stressors include conversion of natural habitat, climate change, spread of invasive species, and land use change including energy development (Garton et al. 2011; Hovick et al. 2014; LeBeau et al. 2020a; Schroeder et al. 2000; Wilsey et al. 2019).

In 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Gunnison sage-grouse as threatened, and in 2022, the agency listed the southern distinct population segment and the northern Male greater sage-grouse displaying at a lek (gathering of males) in Wyoming. Photo from LuRay Parker, Wyoming Game and Fish, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 20649 Grouse and Land-Based Wind Energy Development in the United States | 2 distinct population segment of the lesser prairie-chicken as endangered and threatened, respectively. Conservation status for each species varies from state to state. In addition, several species of grouse are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Trends in greater sage-grouse lek counts relative to existing wind energy development in Wyoming Smith, K., LeBeau, C., Hoskovec, L., Beck, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Assessing the Use of Long-Term Lek Survey Data to Evaluate the Effect of Landscape Characteristics and Wind Facilities on Sharp Tailed Grouse Lek Dynamics in North Dakota and South Dakota Shaffer, J., Buhl, D., Newton, W. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Habitat Change Birds
Lesser prairie-chicken habitat selection and survival relative to a wind energy facility located in a fragmented landscape LeBeau, C., Smith, K., Kosciuch, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Prairie grouse and wind energy: The state of the science and implications for risk assessment Lloyd, J., Aldridge, C., Allison, T., LeBeau, C., McNew, L., Winder, V. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Columbian sharp-tailed grouse brood success and chick survival in a wind-energy landscape Proett, M., Roberts, S., Messmer, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Birds
Virtual Forum on Prairie Grouse and Wind Energy: 2021 Synthesis American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI) Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Capercaillie and Wind Energy: An international research project Taubmann, J., Coppes, J., Andrén, H. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Wind energy facilities affect resource selection of capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Taubmann, J., Kämmerle, J., Andrén, H., Braunisch, V., Storch, I., Fiedler, W., Suchant, R., Coppes, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Noise Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Greater Sage‐Grouse Response to the Physical Footprint of Energy Development Kirol, C., Smith, K., Graf, N., Dinkins, J., LeBeau, C., Maechtle, T., Sutphin, A., Beck, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Wind, sun, and wildlife: do wind and solar energy development "short-circuit" conservation in the western United States? Agha, M., Lovich, J., Ennen, J., Todd, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Consistent effects of wind turbines on habitat selection of capercaillie across Europe Coppes, J., Kämmerle, J., Grunschachner-Berger, V., Braunisch, V., Bollmann, K., Mollet, P., Suchant, R., Nopp-Mayr, U. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Behavioral Response of Grouse to Wind Energy Turbines: A Quantitative Review of Survival, Habitat Selection, and Lek Attendance LeBeau, C., Howlin, S., Tredennick, A., Kosciuch, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Persistence and spatial distribution of Black Grouse in east Alpine wind farms: a contribution to the "wind power versus black grouse protection" debate in Austria Brunner, H., Friedel, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
The impact of wind energy facilities on grouse: a systematic review Coppes, J., Braunisch, V., Bollmann, K., Storch, I., Mollet, P., Grunschachner-Berger, V., Taubmann, J., Suchant, R., Nopp-Mayr, U. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse nesting ecology: wind energy and habitat Proett, M., Roberts, S., Horne, J., Koons, D., Messmer, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Male Greater Prairie-Chickens Adjust their Vocalizations in the Presence of Wind Turbine Noise Whalen, C., Brown, M., McGee, J., Powell, L., Walsh, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Noise Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds
Greater Sage-Grouse: Overview and Effects of Wind Energy Development National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds
Predation risk: a potential mechanism for effects of a wind energy facility on Greater Prairie-Chicken survival Smith, J., Brown, M., Harrison, J., Powell, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Modeling the spatial effects of disturbance: a constructive critique to provide evidence of ecological thresholds Powell, L., Brown, M., Smith, A., Harrison, J., Whalen, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
The Influence of Wind Energy Development on Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) Breeding Season Ecology in Eastern Idaho Proett, M. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Selection, Survival, and Wind Energy Infrastructure LeBeau, C., Johnson, G., Holloran, M., Beck, J., Nielson, R., Kauffman, M., Rodemaker, E., McDonald, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds
Greater sage‐grouse male lek counts relative to a wind energy development LeBeau, C., Beck, J., Johnson, G., Nielson, R., Holloran, M., Gerow, K., McDonald, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds
Indirect Effects of an Existing Wind Energy Facility on Lekking Behavior of Greater Prairie-Chickens Smith, J., Whalen, C., Brown, M., Powell, L., Ebensperger, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Effects of a Wind Energy Development on Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Selection and Population Demographics in Southeastern Wyoming LeBeau, C., Johnson, G., Holloran, M., Beck, J., Nielson, R., Kauffman, M., Rodemaker, E., McDonald, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds
Post-Construction Avian and Bat Fatality at the Horse Butte Wind Facility, Years 1–3 SWCA Environmental Consultants Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Sage grouse war tests limits of partnership in West Lavelle, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Justice, Legal & Policy
Responses of Male Greater Prairie-Chickens to Wind Energy Development Winder, V., Gregory, A., McNew, L., Sandercock, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds
Recommendations for distances of wind turbines to important areas for birds as well as breeding sites of selected bird species Working Group of German State Bird Conservancies Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds
Analysis of the Overlap between Priority Greater Sage-Grouse Habitats and Existing and Potential Energy Development Across the West: Final Report LeBeau, C., Fruhwirth, J., Boehrs, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Evidence of Negative Effects of Anthropogenic Structures on Wildlife: A Review of Grouse Survival and Behaviour Hovick, T., Elmore, R., Dahlgren, D., Fuhlendorf, S., Engle, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Short-Term Impacts of Wind Energy Development on Greater Sage-Grouse Fitness LeBeau, C., Beck, J., Johnson, G., Holloran, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Effects of Wind Energy Development on Nesting Ecology of Greater Prairie-Chickens in Fragmented Grasslands McNew, L., Hunt, L., Gregory, A., Wisely, S., Sandercock, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Upland Land use Predicts Population Decline in a Globally Near-Threatened Wader Douglas, D., Bellamy, P., Stephen, L., Pearce-Higgins, J., Wilson, J., Grant, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Space use by Female Greater Prairie-Chickens in Response to Wind Energy Development Winder, V., NcNew, L., Gregory, A., Hunt, L., Wisely, S., Sandercock, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Effects of Wind Energy Development on Survival of Female Greater Prairie-Chickens Winder, V., NcNew, L., Gregory, A., Hunt, L., Wisely, S., Sandercock, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Evaluating Greater Sage-Grouse Seasonal Space Use Relative to Leks: Implications for Surface Use Designations in Sagebrush Ecosystems Coates, P., Casazza, M., Blomberg, E., Gardner, S., Espinosa, S., Yee, J., Wiechman, L., Halstead, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Fågelundersökningar vid Storruns vindkraftanläggning, Jämtland (Bird surveys at Storrun's wind farm, Jämtland) Falkdalen, U., Lindahl, L., Nygård, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Measuring the Effectiveness of Conservation: A Novel Framework to Quantify the Benefits of Sage-Grouse Conservation Policy and Easements in Wyoming Copeland, H., Pocewicz, A., Naugle, D., Griffiths, T., Keinath, D., Evans, J., Platt, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
50 CFR Part 17: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Status for Gunnison Sage-Grouse; Proposed Rule Gelat, P. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds
Experimental Chronic Noise Is Related to Elevated Fecal Corticosteroid Metabolites in Lekking Male Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Blickley, J., Word, K., Krakauer, A., Phillips, J., Sells, S., Taff, C., Wingfield, J., Patricelli, G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Noise Birds
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