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Assessing Conservation Needs of Eastern Golden Eagles in the Appalachian Region
Project Description and Current Status: We believe that to provide information on potential impacts of wind power development on eagles in the mid-Appalachians requires a multi-step strategy. Our approach focuses on three components, as follows. Our first step is to discover the routes along which eastern golden eagles travel when they pass through the Appalachian Mountains. To do this, we will (a) compile data from new and existing hawk migration counts across Appalachian ridges and (b) track individual eagles with satellite telemetry. Our second step will be to establish how individual birds behave as they move along these migration routes. Specifically, we are using GPS-quality telemetry data to evaluate the altitude and flight speed of birds under a suite of climatic and topographical conditions. The third and final step to this process will be to incorporate these data into spatially explicit computer models to predict population-level migration patterns and individual flight behavior on migration. With these models we can then develop region-wide maps that describe the relative risk to golden eagles of wind power development in different areas along their migration routes. These maps will allow us to make specific recommendations to mitigate the impact of development of wind power on eagles and other raptors.
This project will have numerous benefits to wildlife and to people, primarily because it will provide a framework for safer development of wind power. At present there is little empirical evidence documenting the impacts of wind power development on birds in the eastern USA. Because golden eagles are an important potential "umbrella" for other migratory bird species, especially raptors, this project will benefit a suite of species that may be exposed to risk from development of wind turbines in the mid-Appalachians. In addition, because there are ongoing educational programs at the institutions collaborating on this project, the results of this project will be disseminated beyond government offices, to a broad section of society. Finally, we believe that this work will contribute to a recognized conservation priority for Pennsylvania and many adjoining states, thereby enhancing prospects for multi-state comprehensive wildlife conservation strategies.
In summary, the products resulting from our research – region-wide maps of relative risk to eagles of development of wind power in the mid-Appalachians – will be a very important tool regional land managers can use to protect the distinct eastern golden eagle population. Our hope is that this approach to solving conservation problems (i.e., using empirical data to develop spatially explicit models describing relative threats to wildlife) will serve as a guide for other projects aimed at advancing conservation of other species of wildlife. Finally, although we have not consulted with the wind power industry in developing this research, we expect that this project will generate products that are exactly those required so that the industry can make its efforts even more environmentally friendly.
Funding: This project is currently supported by the National Aviary and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. We are also supported by Pennsylvania State Wildlife Grants, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the government of the province of Quebec, with the support of Hydro-Québec.
Policy Statement: The issue of development of wind power capacity and its influence on wildlife is highly complex. In this web page we only focus on the research side of the problem. For a brief summary of our position on some of the many other issues surrounding the development of wind power capacity in the central Appalachian region, please read our white paper. This document summarizes our project, provides our professional opinion on how we believe wind power should be developed, and gives information on our funding and on our data and publication policies.
