SummaryRenewable energy helps meet the growing energetic demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite its environmental benefits, production of wind energy can adversely affect wildlife populations, including birds. In some species, indirect impacts such as habitat loss and disturbance may be more important than fatalities caused by collisions with turbines. Bicknell’s Thrush Catharus bicknelli, one of the most endangered bird species in North America, may be threatened by wind energy production because it breeds at high elevation sites, which are often prized for their wind potential. Our study had two objectives: we first aimed to document the impacts of the construction and operation of a wind energy facility without mitigation strategy on the occurrence of the Bicknell’s Thrush. At a second facility, we then tested the effectiveness of turbine micro-siting as an effective mitigation strategy to reduce the impacts of wind-energy development on the species. We conducted avian point-counts at 143 locations spread across both facilities in Quebec (Canada) at different periods: before, during and after construction. We modelled the probability of occurrence of the species at point-counts as a function of period, forest loss caused by wind energy development, distance to the nearest turbine and habitat suitability. At the facility without mitigation, we found that the probability of occurrence decreased during construction and early operation at high elevation sites, where most of the turbines were erected. However, the Bicknell’s Thrush recolonized high elevation sites eight years post-construction. In addition, we did not detect a significant impact of wind energy production on the species’ occurrence at the facility where micro-siting was applied. We conclude that habitat loss and disturbance during construction are the main impacts of wind energy production on the Bicknell’s Thrush and that micro-siting appears to be a promising mitigation strategy.

中文翻译：

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风能生产对濒危物种 Bicknell's Thrush Catharus bicknelli 的影响，无论是否有缓解

摘要可再生能源有助于满足不断增长的能源需求，同时减少温室气体排放。尽管对环境有益，但风能的生产会对包括鸟类在内的野生动物种群产生不利影响。在某些物种中，栖息地丧失和干扰等间接影响可能比涡轮机碰撞造成的死亡更为重要。比克内尔的画眉长春花作为北美最濒危的鸟类之一，它可能会受到风能生产的威胁，因为它在高海拔地区繁殖，而这些地区往往因其风力潜力而备受推崇。我们的研究有两个目标：我们首先旨在记录没有缓解策略的风能设施的建设和运营对比克内尔画眉发生的影响。然后，在第二个设施中，我们测试了涡轮机微型选址作为一种有效缓解策略的有效性，以减少风能开发对物种的影响。我们在魁北克（加拿大）的两个设施的 143 个地点在不同时期进行了鸟类点数统计：施工前、施工期间和施工后。我们将点计数处物种出现的概率建模为周期的函数，风能开发造成的森林损失、与最近的涡轮机的距离以及栖息地的适宜性。在没有缓解措施的设施中，我们发现在大部分涡轮机都安装在高海拔地点的施工和早期运行期间，发生概率降低。然而，比克内尔画眉在建造八年后重新定居在高海拔地区。此外，在应用微选址的设施中，我们没有发现风能生产对物种出现的显着影响。我们得出的结论是，施工期间的栖息地丧失和干扰是风能生产对比克内尔画眉鸟的主要影响，而微型选址似乎是一种很有前途的缓解策略。在没有缓解措施的设施中，我们发现在大部分涡轮机都安装在高海拔地点的施工和早期运行期间，发生概率降低。然而，比克内尔画眉在建造八年后重新定居在高海拔地区。此外，在应用微选址的设施中，我们没有发现风能生产对物种出现的显着影响。我们得出的结论是，施工期间的栖息地丧失和干扰是风能生产对比克内尔画眉鸟的主要影响，而微型选址似乎是一种很有前途的缓解策略。在没有缓解措施的设施中，我们发现在大部分涡轮机都安装在高海拔地点的施工和早期运行期间，发生概率降低。然而，比克内尔画眉在建造八年后重新定居在高海拔地区。此外，在应用微选址的设施中，我们没有发现风能生产对物种出现的显着影响。我们得出的结论是，施工期间的栖息地丧失和干扰是风能生产对比克内尔画眉鸟的主要影响，而微型选址似乎是一种很有前途的缓解策略。Bicknell's Thrush 在建造八年后重新定居在高海拔地区。此外，在应用微选址的设施中，我们没有发现风能生产对物种出现的显着影响。我们得出的结论是，施工期间的栖息地丧失和干扰是风能生产对比克内尔画眉鸟的主要影响，而微型选址似乎是一种很有前途的缓解策略。Bicknell's Thrush 在建造八年后重新定居在高海拔地区。此外，在应用微选址的设施中，我们没有发现风能生产对物种出现的显着影响。我们得出的结论是，施工期间的栖息地丧失和干扰是风能生产对比克内尔画眉鸟的主要影响，而微型选址似乎是一种很有前途的缓解策略。