Indirect Effects of an Existing Wind Energy Facility on Lekking Behavior of Greater Prairie‐Chickens

Abstract

Rapid expansion of the wind energy industry has raised concerns about the potential effects of anthropogenic disturbance on prairie grouse. While efforts have been made to address the effects of wind energy facilities on measures of fitness, their effect on the behaviors of prairie grouse has been largely neglected. To address these concerns, we investigated the effects of an existing wind energy facility in Nebraska that became operational in 2005 on the lekking behavior of male greater prairie‐chickens Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus between March and May 2013. Given the potential for disturbance caused by wind turbine noise to disrupt acoustic communication and thus behavior, we predicted that males at leks close to, compared to far from, the wind energy facility would spend more time in agonistic behaviors, and less in booming displays. Given the potential for wind turbine noise to reduce the number of females attending leks (hereafter ‘female lek attendance’), we also predicted that males at leks close to the wind energy facility would spend more time in non‐breeding behaviors and less time in breeding behaviors than males farther from the facility. Although we found no effect of the wind energy facility on female lek attendance, males at leks closer to the wind energy facility spent less time in non‐breeding behaviors than those at leks farther away. However, distance from the wind energy facility had no effect on time spent performing booming displays, flutter jumps, or in agonistic behaviors. Given that lekking behaviors of males influence mating success, our results may have consequences for the fitness of prairie grouse breeding in the vicinity of wind energy facilities.

Boreal bird abundance estimates within different energy sector disturbances vary with point count radius

“…Recent research suggests that low-frequency noise produced by wind turbines may disrupt acoustic communication, causing birds to modify their vocalization characteristics (Whalen 2015, Zwart et al 2016b). These results suggest that noise associated with wind energy development may disturb birds and could act as a mechanism driving indirect effects (e.g., lekking behavior; Smith et al 2016). However, the likelihood of noise as an intermediary mechanism is likely to be speciesspecific, depending on the extent of masking (Rheindt 2003).…”

“…While some species appear sensitive to wind energy development, evidence for the displacement of other species is either minimal or site-specific (e.g., Sky Lark: Devereux et al 2008 Hale et al 2014), and some species may even be attracted to wind energy facilities (e.g., Killdeer [Charadrius vociferus]; Shaffer and Buhl 2016). Moreover, sensitivity to wind energy development may not always be reflected through changes in spatial ecology, but instead through other behaviors (e.g., lekking; Smith et al 2016). Birds that avoid wind energy facilities during and immediately following construction may fail to show avoidance behavior thereafter Boertmann 2008, Pearce-Higgins et al 2012), perhaps minimizing long-term effects in those species.…”

“…Of the studies that have assessed interactions between renewable energy infrastructure and birds, many have primarily targeted specific management crises, often focusing on species of conservation concern (e.g., Greater SageGrouse [Centrocercus urophasianus]: LeBeau et al 2014; Greater Prairie-Chicken [Tympanuchus cupido]: Smith et al 2016) in areas targeted for development (e.g., the Great Plains of North America; Harrison 2015, Whalen 2015, Winder et al 2015. Thus, studies have been necessarily limited and inconsistent in the focal species addressed, experimental design, and study site.…”

Wind turbine noise limits propagation of greater prairie‐chicken boom chorus, but does it matter?

“…During acoustic recordings, we collected behavioral data from a blind placed near the edge of the lek (Smith et al, ) and counted the number of males and females present on the lek (hereafter, “lek attendance”) every 20 min. For every recording session, we documented the arrival time of the first prairie‐chicken and the departure time of the last prairie‐chicken to leave the lek.…”

“…All four vocalizations are low‐frequency signals (peak frequencies: boom, 302 Hz; cackle, 484 Hz; whine, 935 Hz; whoop, 693 Hz; Whalen, ; Whalen et al, ), which makes them potentially vulnerable to interference from low‐frequency anthropogenic noise. Lekking males may spend as much as 20% of their time performing courtship displays (Smith, Whalen, Brown, & Powell, ). The courtship displays of male prairie‐chickens are similar to those of other lekking galliforms (e.g., greater sage‐grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus ; Wiley, ; sharp‐tailed grouse, Pedioecetes phasianellus ; Kermott & Oring, ).…”