June 2011 (289 pp.)
This resource document of the Wildlife Workgroup is intended as a guide to persons involved in designing, conducting, or requiring wind energy/wildlife interaction studies. The document follows a general framework for progressing through the decision process for a proposed wind project and a guide to methods and metrics for use in the necessary studies. The guide is relevant to the study of any wildlife species, although the focus is on birds and bats.
June 2010 (8 pp.)
This fact sheet summarizes what is known about bird and bat interactions with land-based wind power in North America, including habitat impacts, and what key questions and knowledge gaps remain. It uses a three-tiered classification of wind-wildlife relationships based on the weight of the evidence and agreement, or lack thereof, among researchers in the field on each particular statement contained in the Fact Sheet.
May 2008 (18 pp.)
White paper synthesizes key research needs identified by the NWCC Wildlife Workgroup and other research and technical institutions. Research topics are grouped within eight categories: pre-construction tools, methods, and metrics; post-construction tools, methods, and metrics; mitigation measures; comparative alternatives analysis; impacts to habitat; impact, population, migration and behavioral data; bat-specific needs; habitat and resource development land-use mapping; and cumulative/population impacts. Neither the categories nor the topics within each category reflect any overall ranking of importance or degree of urgency.
November 2007 (40 pp.)
Document provides researchers, consultants, decision-makers, and other stakeholders with guidance on methods and metrics for investigating nocturnally active birds and bats in relation to utility-scale wind power development. Developed to complement and extend the NWCC’s Studying Wind Energy/Bird Interactions: A Guidance Document. This document is now incorporated into the Comprehensive Guide to Studying Wind Energy/Wildlife Interactions.
October 2007 (183 pp.)
Review examines the actual and potential impacts of wind energy facilities on grassland and shrub-steppe avian species. In the absence of a substantial body of literature, other anthropogenic activities that have features in common with wind power development were included. The authors conducted a comprehensive literature search that included “gray” literature – papers, articles, summaries and transcripts of talks, and other materials that did not appear in peer-reviewed literature – and research from around the world.
Updated June 2007 (15 pp.)
Offers guidelines for studies directed at assessing the influence of wind developments on the behavior of breeding grassland birds, particularly passerines (songbirds). Addresses the issue of displacement (habitat avoidance), not strikes. The authors consider two types of experimental design and offer recommendations on the goals, objectives and length of studies, and on methods for collecting field data and characterizing vegetation.
May 2007 (962KB PDF)
Compilation of mitigation policies, guidelines, and research that are either directly or indirectly applicable to the wind industry. Examines whether existing strategies are based on sound scientific research, and indicates the effectiveness of various methods of avoiding, minimizing, or compensating for direct and indirect impacts on wildlife caused by wind power facilities.