Comparing pre- versus postoperational movement of nocturnal migrants around a wind energy facility in northeast British Columbia, Canada
We used two data-recording, open-array marine surveillance radars to track microscale movements of nocturnal migrants at a wind energy project in northeast British Columbia during the preoperational (2008-2010) and operational periods (2011-2012). Data was collected during the peak periods of spring...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Resilience Alliance
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Avian Conservation and Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ace-eco.org/vol12/iss2/art3/ |
| _version_ | 1797969698992685056 |
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| author | Marc V. d'Entremont Isobel Hartley Ken A. Otter |
| author_facet | Marc V. d'Entremont Isobel Hartley Ken A. Otter |
| author_sort | Marc V. d'Entremont |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We used two data-recording, open-array marine surveillance radars to track microscale movements of nocturnal migrants at a wind energy project in northeast British Columbia during the preoperational (2008-2010) and operational periods (2011-2012). Data was collected during the peak periods of spring and fall passerine migration in each year. We measured bearing and altitude of nocturnal migrants, as well as the average number of migrants flying in the airspace closest to the wind turbines. Using weather data on wind direction and strength during the periods of monitored migration, we calculated flow-assistance of wind in aiding migration. Although there was greater flow-assistance to movement in spring over fall migration, we did not find a significant difference between the preoperational and operational periods in flow-assisted flight. The altitude at which migrants flew did differ with development phase of the wind facility; migrants flew at higher altitudes during years when the turbines were operational compared to preoperational years. Although the proportion of migrants detected in the airspace 0-150 m above ground level (agl), coinciding with turbine height, did not differ with season or operational phase of the installation, there was a reduction in the proportion of migrants in the airspace just above turbines (151-300 m agl) when turbines were operational. In general, though, the overall altitudes used by migrants were typically higher than turbine height, so the adjustments we documented would only further reduce what appear to be already low levels of collision risk at this particular facility. We discuss possible reasons why this facility appeared to induce low collision risk to migrants, and how this might inform siting decisions of other wind facilities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T03:06:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9660abdc707448acb223a596dbecee4c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1712-6568 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T03:06:20Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Resilience Alliance |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Avian Conservation and Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9660abdc707448acb223a596dbecee4c2023-01-02T13:03:17ZengResilience AllianceAvian Conservation and Ecology1712-65682017-12-01122310.5751/ACE-01046-1202031046Comparing pre- versus postoperational movement of nocturnal migrants around a wind energy facility in northeast British Columbia, CanadaMarc V. d'Entremont0Isobel Hartley1Ken A. Otter2LGL LimitedNatural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British ColumbiaNatural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British ColumbiaWe used two data-recording, open-array marine surveillance radars to track microscale movements of nocturnal migrants at a wind energy project in northeast British Columbia during the preoperational (2008-2010) and operational periods (2011-2012). Data was collected during the peak periods of spring and fall passerine migration in each year. We measured bearing and altitude of nocturnal migrants, as well as the average number of migrants flying in the airspace closest to the wind turbines. Using weather data on wind direction and strength during the periods of monitored migration, we calculated flow-assistance of wind in aiding migration. Although there was greater flow-assistance to movement in spring over fall migration, we did not find a significant difference between the preoperational and operational periods in flow-assisted flight. The altitude at which migrants flew did differ with development phase of the wind facility; migrants flew at higher altitudes during years when the turbines were operational compared to preoperational years. Although the proportion of migrants detected in the airspace 0-150 m above ground level (agl), coinciding with turbine height, did not differ with season or operational phase of the installation, there was a reduction in the proportion of migrants in the airspace just above turbines (151-300 m agl) when turbines were operational. In general, though, the overall altitudes used by migrants were typically higher than turbine height, so the adjustments we documented would only further reduce what appear to be already low levels of collision risk at this particular facility. We discuss possible reasons why this facility appeared to induce low collision risk to migrants, and how this might inform siting decisions of other wind facilities.http://www.ace-eco.org/vol12/iss2/art3/collision riskconservationmovementnocturnal migrantsradarwind energy |
| spellingShingle | Marc V. d'Entremont Isobel Hartley Ken A. Otter Comparing pre- versus postoperational movement of nocturnal migrants around a wind energy facility in northeast British Columbia, Canada Avian Conservation and Ecology collision risk conservation movement nocturnal migrants radar wind energy |
| title | Comparing pre- versus postoperational movement of nocturnal migrants around a wind energy facility in northeast British Columbia, Canada |
| title_full | Comparing pre- versus postoperational movement of nocturnal migrants around a wind energy facility in northeast British Columbia, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Comparing pre- versus postoperational movement of nocturnal migrants around a wind energy facility in northeast British Columbia, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparing pre- versus postoperational movement of nocturnal migrants around a wind energy facility in northeast British Columbia, Canada |
| title_short | Comparing pre- versus postoperational movement of nocturnal migrants around a wind energy facility in northeast British Columbia, Canada |
| title_sort | comparing pre versus postoperational movement of nocturnal migrants around a wind energy facility in northeast british columbia canada |
| topic | collision risk conservation movement nocturnal migrants radar wind energy |
| url | http://www.ace-eco.org/vol12/iss2/art3/ |
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