Short-term impacts of wind energy development on greater sage-grouse fitness

Abstract

Greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are experiencing population declines across much of their current range. Population declines are directly related to changes in greater sage‐grouse fitness parameters including nest and brood success, and female survival. Reduced fitness in greater sage‐grouse populations has been attributed to a decrease in habitat suitability caused by anthropogenic disturbance factors including energy extraction activities. The increased demand for renewable energy has raised concerns about the impacts of infrastructure associated with wind energy development on greater sage‐grouse populations. We hypothesized that greater sage‐grouse nest, brood, and adult survival would decrease with increasing proximity to wind energy infrastructure, particularly wind turbines. We monitored 95 nests, 31 broods, and identified 45 mortalities from 116 female greater sage‐grouse from 2009 to 2010 at a wind energy facility in south‐central Wyoming, USA. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to model nest survival and used the Andersen–Gill survival model to estimate female and brood survival relative to vegetation cover, topography, and distance to wind turbines and other anthropogenic features on the landscape. Results from our survival analysis indicated that the risk of a nest or brood failing decreased by 7.1% and 38.1%, respectively, with every 1.0 km increase in distance from nearest turbine. We detected no variation in female survival relative to wind energy infrastructure. Decreased nest and brood survival was likely the result of increased predation, which may have been a product of anthropogenic development and habitat fragmentation. Future wind energy developments should consider the increased risk of nest and brood failure within habitats of close proximity to turbines. Identifying nesting and brood‐rearing habitats within close proximity to proposed wind energy developments is critical when estimating potential impacts to overall population fitness. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.

Collision avoidance by migrating raptors encountering a new electric power transmission line

“…A. Smith personal observation). Similarly, the survival of female Greater Sage-Grouse breeding in the vicinity of a wind energy facility in Wyoming was unaffected by distance to a turbine (LeBeau et al 2014).…”

“…For example, distance to a turbine negatively affected nest survival of Greater Sage-Grouse (LeBeau et al 2014), but had little effect on nest survival of Redwinged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus; Gillespie and Dinsmore 2014), Greater Prairie-Chickens , Harrison 2015, and McCown's Longspurs (Rhynchophanes mccownii; Mahoney and Chalfoun 2016). In contrast, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus forficatus) nesting in sites close to a 75-turbine wind energy facility in Texas had higher nest survival compared with their counterparts nesting in sites farther away (Rubenstahl et al 2012).…”

“…Changes in predator abundance may be key to understanding the indirect effects of wind energy development on measures of breeding success and adult survival (Rubenstahl et al 2012, LeBeau et al 2014, Winder et al 2014. For example, avoidance of wind energy facilities by raptors (Pearce-Higgins et al 2009, Garvin et al 2011, or by mammalian predators due to increased disturbance associated with human activity (Gese et al 1989, Gehrt et al 2009), may reduce predation risk at sites close to wind energy facilities, consequently increasing survival.…”

“…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.…”

Using environmental impact assessment and post‐construction monitoring data to inform wind energy developments

“…Potential effects include displacement through direct or indirect habitat loss (e.g., Pearce-Higgins et al 2009, Dahl et al 2012, or fatality through collision with turbine blades (e.g., Orloff and Flannery 1992, Horn et al 2008, Smallwood and Thelander 2008. Much focus has been on birds, with larger, less maneuverable, species tending to be at greatest risk; these include raptors, geese and gamebirds (Barrios and Rodríguez 2004, Hö tker et al 2006, Fijn et al 2007, Smallwood and Thelander 2008, Zeiler and Grü nschachner-Berger 2009, Garvin et al 2011, Dahl et al 2012, LeBeau et al 2014. A better understanding of the risks posed by wind energy developments is important for at least two reasons: conservationists are concerned about the potential effects on vulnerable species, and at the same time planning applications from wind energy companies can be refused or subject to costly delays if wildlife is judged to be threatened.…”