Eagle Flight Behavior and Risk from Wind Energy

Abstract

Wind power is a fast-growing industry with broad potential to impact flying wildlife. Understanding these impacts is critical to developing effective strategies and recommendations for siting turbines and for mitigating impacts to animals. We tracked ~80 Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos in eastern North America with GPS-GSM telemetry systems. The fast data collection frequency we used allowed us to understand details of flight behavior and thus risk to birds from wind turbines along migration routes and on wintering grounds.

Keywords

• birds of prey
• golden eagle
• aquila chrysaetos
• windfarms