Effects of Wind Energy Development on Nesting Ecology of Greater Prairie-Chickens in Fragmented Grasslands: Wind Power and Prairie-Chickens

McNew, Lance B.; Hunt, Lyla M.; Gregory, Andrew J.; Wisley, Samantha M.; Sandercock, Brett K.

doi:10.1111/cobi.12258

Effects of Wind Energy Development on Nesting Ecology of Greater Prairie-Chickens in Fragmented Grasslands: Wind Power and Prairie-Chickens

Journal Article · Fri Mar 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Conservation Biology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12258· OSTI ID:1625862

McNew, Lance B. ^[1]; Hunt, Lyla M. ^[2]; Gregory, Andrew J. ^[2]; Wisley, Samantha M. ^[2]; Sandercock, Brett K. ^[2]

Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States); DOE/OSTI
Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States)

Wind energy is targeted to meet 20% of U.S. energy needs by 2030, but new sites for development of renewable energy may overlap with important habitats of declining populations of grassland birds. Greater Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) are an obligate grassland bird species predicted to respond negatively to energy development. We used a modified before–after control–impact design to test for impacts of a wind energy development on the reproductive ecology of prairie-chickens in a 5-year study. We located 59 and 185 nests before and after development, respectively, of a 201 MW wind energy facility in Greater Prairie-Chicken nesting habitat and assessed nest site selection and nest survival relative to proximity to wind energy infrastructure and habitat conditions. Proximity to turbines did not negatively affect nest site selection (β = 0.03, 95% CI = -1.2–1.3) or nest survival (β = -0.3, 95% CI = -0.1). Instead, nest site selection and survival were strongly related to vegetative cover and other local conditions determined by management for cattle production. Integration of our project results with previous reports of behavioral avoidance of oil and gas facilities by other species of prairie grouse suggests new avenues for research to mitigate impacts of energy development.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1625862

Journal Information:: Conservation Biology, Journal Name: Conservation Biology Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 28; ISSN 0888-8892

Publisher:: Society for Conservation Biology - WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Effects of Wind Energy Development on Nesting Ecology of Greater Prairie-Chickens in Fragmented Grasslands: Wind Power and Prairie-Chickens

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