Effects of development of wind energy and associated changes in land use on bird densities in upland areas

Abstract

Wind energy development is the most recent of many pressures on upland bird communities and their habitats. Studies of birds in relation to wind energy development have focused on effects of direct mortality, but the importance of indirect effects (e.g., displacement, habitat loss) on avian community diversity and stability is increasingly being recognized. We used a control-impact study in combination with a gradient design to assess the effects of wind farms on upland bird densities and on bird species grouped by habitat association (forest and open-habitat species). We conducted 506 point count surveys at 12 wind-farm and 12 control sites in Ireland during 2 breeding seasons (2012 and 2013). Total bird densities were lower at wind farms than at control sites, and the greatest differences occurred close to turbines. Densities of forest species were significantly lower within 100 m of turbines than at greater distances, and this difference was mediated by habitat modifications associated with wind-farm development. In particular, reductions in forest cover adjacent to turbines was linked to the observed decrease in densities of forest species. Open-habitat species' densities were lower at wind farms but were not related to distance from turbines and were negatively related to size of the wind farm. This suggests that, for these species, wind-farm effects may occur at a landscape scale.Our findings indicate that the scale and intensity of the displacement effects of wind farms on upland birds depends on bird species' habitat associations and that the observed effects are mediated by changes in land use associated with wind-farm construction. This highlights the importance of construction effects and siting of turbines, tracks, and other infrastructure in understanding the impacts of wind farms on biodiversity. Efectos del Desarrollo de la Energía Eólica y los Cambios Asociados al Uso de Suelo sobre las Densidades de Aves en Tierras AltasResumen: El desarrollo de la energía eólica es la más reciente de muchas presiones ejercidas sobre las comunidades de aves de tierras altas y sus hábitats. Los estudios sobre aves en relación con el desarrollo de la energía eólica se han enfocado en los efectos de la mortalidad directa, pero la importancia de los efectos indirectos (p. ej.: desplazamiento, pérdida de hábitat) sobre la diversidad y estabilidad de las comunidades aviares cada vez se reconoce más. Usamos un estudio de control-impacto combinado con un diseño de gradiente para evaluar los efectos de los campos eólicos sobre las densidades de aves de tierras altas y sobre las especies de aves agrupadas por asociación de hábitat (especies de bosque y de hábitat abierto). Realizamos 506 censos de conteo por puntos en 12 sitios de campos eólicos y 12 sitios control en Irlanda durante dos temporadas de reproducción (2012 y 2013). Las densidades de aves totales fueron más bajas en los campos eólicos que en los sitios control, con las diferencias más importantes ocurriendo cerca de las turbinas. Las densidades de las especies...

Estimating offsets for avian displacement effects of anthropogenic impacts

“…, Shaffer and Buhl , Fernandez‐Bellon et al. ). Yet other authors express displacement distance as a continuous variable without author interpretation of a specific distance (Kalyn Bogard and Davis ).…”

“…The distance that infrastructure exerts an influence on bird behavior must be obtained. Several authors have reported discrete displacement distances based on their design and analysis (Winkelman 1992, Pearce-Higgins et al 2009, Garvin et al 2011, Sansom et al 2016, Shaffer and Buhl 2016, Fernandez-Bellon et al 2018). Yet other authors express displacement distance as a continuous variable without author interpretation of a specific distance (Kalyn Bogard and Davis 2014).…”

Renewable Energy Sources: Traditional and Modern-Age Technologies

“…1-Noise pollution (by the rotor blades) (Rogers, Manwell et al 2006, Oerlemans, Sijtsma et al 2007), 2-visual pollution (Koeppl 1982, Dhar, Naeth et al 2019), 3-land use (Koeppl 1982, Fernández-Bellon, Wilson et al 2019, and 4-avian mortality (caused by flying into the rotor) (Miller, Boal et al 2008, Chang, Nielsen et al 2013).…”

Energy and Climate Policy—An Evaluation of Global Climate Change Expenditure 2011–2018

“…On-shore habitat loss may arise through bird and bat species avoiding areas containing wind generators. Habitat change can arise from the collision of birds (particularly raptors) and bats with the wind generators [221][222][223][224]. An estimated 234,000 birds are killed annually from wind turbines in the United States alone [222].…”