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KSU study shows little effect from wind turbines on prairie chickens 

Credit:  By Jacob Weston | July 10, 2013 | www.kfdi.com ~~

A seven-year study headed by Kansas State University Professor of Biology Brett Sandercock revealed wind turbine sites do not have a significant effect on greater prairie chicken populations.

Wind turbine placement has been a subject of debate in the past, especially in the Flint Hills. Sandercock’s team represented the interests of multiple groups, including conservationists, wildlife agencies and wind energy companies. The goal was to determine the effects that wind turbine development had on Kansas’ grassland birds.

“We had a lot of buy-in from stakeholders and we had an effective oversight committee,” said Sandercock. “The research will certainly aid with wind power site guidelines and with the development of mitigation strategies to enhance habitat conditions for the greater prairie chicken.”

After studying several development sites around Kansas, the team saw an interesting development. After turbines were placed in an area, female survival rates increased. Sandercock believes this may be because predators tend to avoid areas with wind turbines.

“What’s quite typical for these birds is most of the demographic losses are driven by predation. We can say that with confidence,” Sandercock said. “What’s a little unclear from our results is whether that increase in female survivorship was due to the effects of wind turbines on predators.”

The team of researchers will be conducting follow-up studies, but for the time being, it seems Kansas may be able to further develop wind energy sites across grasslands, without the threat of further endangering greater prairie chicken populations.

Source:  By Jacob Weston | July 10, 2013 | www.kfdi.com

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

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