Timing and Weather Offer Alternative Mitigation Strategies for Lowering Bat Mortality at Wind Energy Facilities in Ontario

Squires, Kelly; Thurber, Bethany G.; Zimmerling, J. Ryan; Francis, Charles M.

doi:10.3390/ani11123503

Cited by 7 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Therefore, taller turbines that tend to produce more energy may kill more birds and bats than smaller turbines, but the number of animals killed per GWh may remain constant. If we consider how this result can inform efforts to maximize energy production while minimizing wildlife collisions, considering turbine height in the new construction or the repowering of turbines is likely a less effective strategy for reducing wildlife fatalities than efforts such as minimizing turbine blade movement during high-risk periods, for example at night, during migratory periods, and in certain weather conditions for bats (Arnett et al 2011;Squires et al 2021) and during the post-breeding and southbound migration period for swallows (Erickson et al 2014).…”

Section: Swallows In Late Summermentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of turbine height and cut-in speed on bat and swallow fatalities at wind energy facilities

Anderson

Jardine

Zimmerling

et al. 2022

FACETS

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Understanding the relationship between the height of wind turbines and wildlife fatalities is important for informing and mitigating wildlife collisions as ever taller and denser arrays of wind turbines are erected across the landscape. We examined relationships between turbine height and fatalities of bats and swallows at 811 turbines in Ontario, Canada, ranging from 119 to 186 m tall. We accounted for cut-in speeds, operational mitigation, and taller turbines projecting carcasses farther from the turbine base than shorter turbines. Fatalities of hoary bats ( Lasiurus cinereus Palisot de Beauvois, 1796), silver-haired bats ( Lasionycteris noctivagans Le Conte, 1831), and big brown bats ( Eptesicus fuscus Palisot de Beauvois, 1796) increased with increased maximum blade height of turbines. In contrast, fatalities of little brown bat ( Myotis lucifugus Le Conte, 1831) and eastern red bat ( Lasiurus borealis Müller, 1776) decreased with increased turbine height. Fatalities of purple martins ( Progne subis Linnaeus, 1758) and tree swallows ( Tachycineta bicolor Vieillot, 1808) were higher at taller turbines than shorter turbines. However, fatalities of cliff swallow ( Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Vieillot, 1817) and barn swallow ( Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758) were not associated with turbine height. Our results suggest that varying flight height among species may be one factor affecting collision risk.

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Section: Swallows In Late Summermentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of turbine height and cut-in speed on bat and swallow fatalities at wind energy facilities

Anderson

Jardine

Zimmerling

et al. 2022

FACETS

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“…An important step in doing so is understanding why birds and bats collide with turbines in the first place. In temperate regions of the U.S. and Canada, a common and fruitful approach in developing hypotheses about collision risk has been to examine the seasonal timing of fatalities (e.g., [ 3 – 8 ]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, bats, as a group, have a single, but lengthy, peak of fatalities from mid- to late summer until early autumn (mid-July to early September) that corresponds with both seasonal movements to wintering areas and mating periods. Bats do not show consistent evidence of a spring peak in fatalities, even though most of the bats killed in collisions with wind turbines undertake seasonal migrations (e.g., hoary bat [ Aeorestes cinereus ], Eastern red bat [ Lasiurus borealis ], and silver-haired bat [ Lasionycteris noctivagans ]) [ 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]. Seasonal patterns of fatalities among bats have highlighted the potential importance of migratory and mating behavior as risk factors [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, although some studies show no significant among-species variation in the timing of the main autumn peak in fatality counts for bats [ 7 , 8 ], data from Baerwald and Barclay [ 4 ] indicate that silver-haired bat fatalities may peak later in the year than hoary bat: early September for the former vs. July or August for the latter. It is not clear why silver-haired bats may exhibit a pattern that differs from other migratory tree bats, but apparent differences in timing highlight the need to consider species-specific behaviors as an additional element of risk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal patterns of bird and bat collision fatalities at wind turbines

Lloyd¹,

Butryn²,

Pearman-Gillman

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Information on when birds and bats die from collisions with wind turbines can help refine efforts to minimize fatalities via curtailment of energy productions and can offer insight into the risk factors associated with collision fatalities. Using data pooled from 114 post-construction monitoring studies conducted at wind facilities across the United States, we described seasonal patterns of fatalities among birds and bats. Bat fatalities peaked in the fall. Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), a long-distance migrant, and Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) both showed maximum fatality counts later in the year–October and November, respectively–than any other bat species. The other common species in our sample–hoary bat (Aeorestes cinereus), Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), and big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus)–showed broadly overlapping peaks of fatality counts in August. Fatalities of silver-haired bat showed a smaller spring peak in some ecoregions; no other bat species exhibited this pattern. Seasonal patterns of bird fatalities varied among guilds. Woodland birds, many of which were long-distance migrants, showed two peaks in fatalities corresponding to spring and fall migration. Grassland birds and soaring birds, most of which were resident or short-distance migrants, did not exhibit strong seasonal peaks in fatalities. Species in these guilds tend to inhabit regions with extensive wind-energy development year-round, which may explain the more consistent numbers of fatalities that we observed. Our results highlight the value of pooling data to develop science-based solutions to reduce conflicts between wind-energy development and wildlife but also emphasize the need for more extensive data and standardization of post-construction monitoring to support more robust inferences regarding wind-wildlife interactions and collision risk.

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“…Studies reporting mortality in winter, when most bats show little or no activity, are very rare(Stawski et al 2014;Weaver et al 2020). The majority of studies have focused their efforts on warmer months, when mortality peaks are reported(Arnett et al 2008;Rydell et al 2010;Squires et al 2021).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Bat Mortality in Wind Farms of Southern Europe: Temporal Patterns and Implications in the Current Context of Climate Change

Salguero

Cruz

Gallego

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The expansion of renewable energy production, especially wind power, is one of the cornerstones of our strategy for mitigating climate change. However, there is growing concern about the impacts of this energy source on biodiversity, and a need to develop tools to adequately assess this impact and mitigate its effects. In particular, very little is known about the impact on groups of fauna such as bats, which are especially sensitive to environmental changes. We investigated the temporal patterns of bat fatalities in wind farms in the province of Cádiz, in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. An eleven-year data set (2009–2019) from a surveillance program of bird and bat mortality in wind farms was analysed. A total of 2,858 fatalities concerning 10 bat genera were reported, although more than 90% of the affected animals were individuals of the genera Pipistrellus, Eptesicus and Nyctalus. Bat mortality occurred throughout the year, including all winter months in the case of the genus Pipistrellus. Nonetheless, the majority of fatalities of bats with wind turbines in the province of Cádiz occurred during summer and autumn, especially during August. The probability of mortality was positively correlated with the maximum daily temperature. According to the model prediction, the probability of fatality begins to increase slightly from 20°C and then rises sharply when the temperature exceeds 30°C. According to the regional projections of global climate models, an increase in maximum temperatures and the arrival of milder winters may lead to an increase in the annual mortality of bats in wind farms in the coming decades.

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Timing and Weather Offer Alternative Mitigation Strategies for Lowering Bat Mortality at Wind Energy Facilities in Ontario

Cited by 7 publications

References 38 publications

Effects of turbine height and cut-in speed on bat and swallow fatalities at wind energy facilities

Effects of turbine height and cut-in speed on bat and swallow fatalities at wind energy facilities

Seasonal patterns of bird and bat collision fatalities at wind turbines

Bat Mortality in Wind Farms of Southern Europe: Temporal Patterns and Implications in the Current Context of Climate Change

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