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Wind turbines do not negatively impact density and nest success in grassland birds at a North Texas wind farm
Hatchett, Erin Siegel
Hatchett, Erin Siegel
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[Fort Worth, Tex.] : Texas Christian University,
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2011
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Tremendous growth in wind energy development in the Great Plains has the potential to negatively impact the nesting ecology of many grassland birds. In 2010-2011, I monitored density of the Dickcissel, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlark at Wolf Ridge Wind Farm in north-central Texas. Eastern Meadowlark and Grasshopper Sparrow density did not vary with distance to turbine. However, Dickcissel density was greatest 301-400 m from turbines in 2010, but Dickcissel density did not vary with distance in 2011. I located 81 Dickcissel nests and 18 Grasshopper Sparrow nests in 2010 and 112 Dickcissel nests and 8 Grasshopper Sparrow nests in 2011. Nest success of Dickcissels and Grasshopper Sparrows did not vary with distance to turbine. In 2010 and 2011, vegetation height and density was significantly greater at nests than at non-nest locations. My data indicate that Dickcissel nesting ecology is not negatively impacted by the presence of wind turbines
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Environmental and Sustainability Sciences