eagle fatality monitoring report shiloh iv wind …...curry & kerlinger, llc paul kerlinger,...

EAGLE FATALITY MONITORING REPORT

SHILOH IV WIND PROJECT

Solano County, California

September 2015

Prepared for:

Shiloh IV Wind Project, LLC

Prepared by:

CURRY & KERLINGER, LLC

Paul Kerlinger, Ph.D.

Richard Curry, Ph.D.

Aaron Hasch

John Guarnaccia

Curry and Kerlinger, LLC

1734 Susquehannock Drive

McLean, VA. 22101

703-821-1404, fax-703-821-1366

[email protected]

Shiloh IV Wind Project, Eagle Fatality Monitoring Report

Curry & Kerlinger, LLC, September 2015 © 1

Executive Summary

This report provides the results of one year of monthly eagle fatality monitoring conducted at the

Shiloh IV Wind Project. This monitoring was required as a condition of an eagle take permit

that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereafter, the Service) issued in 2014. The Shiloh IV

Wind Project is located in the Montezuma Hills Wind Resource Area (MHWRA) in Solano

County, California. The permit allows the take (i.e., injury or killing) of a total of five Golden

Eagles over five years during operations and maintenance activities. Take is allowed only during

the five-year duration of the permit, but the permit is renewable.

An Eagle Conservation Plan (ECP) detailed post-construction monitoring activities. The Service

required at least one year of monthly eagle fatality monitoring at all 50 turbines. This

monitoring was scheduled to coincide with weekly bird and bat fatality monitoring required by

Solano County.

Approximately every 30 days from September 2014 to August 2015, all 50 of the Shiloh IV

turbines were searched for eagle carcasses along circular transects out to 120 m from turbine

bases. The 120-m distance extended beyond 117 m, which was the maximum distance that a

ballistics model predicted that a large bird, having collided with wind turbines, would be

distributed. The 30-day interval was chosen because evidence strongly suggested that larger

birds, particularly eagles, were unlikely to be removed completely by scavengers and were likely

to remain highly detectable for long periods of time.

Turbines were divided into two groups: (1) the 25 turbines in weekly search rotation, and (2) the

25 turbines not in weekly search rotation. To meet the requirements of Solano County, turbines

in weekly search rotation were searched along circular transects that were 10 m apart from 100 m

to 30 m from turbine bases and 5 m apart between 30 m and 5 m from turbine bases. Searchers

used range finders to estimate distances from turbines and recheck them periodically. To search

those turbines out to 120 m, an additional transect was added during the week when eagle

searches were conducted.

Turbines not in weekly search rotation were also searched along circular transects, but the

interval between transects depended on vegetation height. In short vegetation (i.e., vegetation

<15 cm [<6 inches] in height), transects were spaced at 20 m, 60 m, and 100 m from turbines,

with searchers searching 20 m on each side of transects. In tall vegetation (i.e., vegetation >15

cm [>6 inches] in height), the interval between transects was reduced – because an eagle carcass

would be less evident – with transects located at 10 m, 30 m, 50 m, 70 m, 90 m, and 110 m from

turbines and searchers searching 10 m of each side of transects.

One year (12 monthly rounds) of eagle searches were conducted, amounting to 600 individual

turbine searches. There were also an additional 1,000 weekly searches out to 105 m at half of the

turbines. Visibility conditions were conducive to finding carcasses with short vegetation (<15

cm), recorded in 73% of the searches. Tall vegetation (>15 cm) was recorded beginning in

December mainly in wheat fields and was present through July, when wheat was harvested.



No eagle carcasses were found. There were, however, three incidental finds of birds in areas that

did not overlap weekly search plots: a Red-winged Blackbird, a Western Meadowlark, and a

Turkey Vulture.

That no Golden Eagle carcasses were found during eagle fatality monitoring at Shiloh IV is in

line with results of long-term fatality monitoring in the MHWRA. Golden Eagle fatalities are

rarely recorded in the MHWRA, probably because the species is infrequent, the result of

suboptimal foraging and nesting habitat, and not often at risk of collision. Indeed, data show a

significant decrease in Golden Eagle abundance in the vicinity of Shiloh IV from 2007-2008 to

2013-2015, probably because eagles are not regularly nesting within the MHWRA, although

there are four nests within 16 km of Shiloh IV. Thus, collision risk has probably decreased as

well.

Additional monthly eagle fatality monitoring is likely to produce the same result. Given that the

eagle take permit for Shiloh IV allows take of five Golden Eagles over five years, data from over

13 years of fatality monitoring, in addition to this study, strongly suggest little likelihood that

take will be exceeded. If anything, take is likely to be less than that estimated using the

Service’s collision risk model (CRM).



Table of Contents

Executive Summary 1

Introduction 8

Methods 9

Results 11

Discussion 12

Literature Cited 14

Appendices

A. Monthly eagle searches conducted 17

Figures

1. Location of the Shiloh IV Wind Project in the MHWRA, Solano County, California 4

2. Northern turbines at Shiloh IV 5

3. Middle turbines at Shiloh IV 6

4. Southern turbines at Shiloh IV 7

5. Vegetation height by month during eagle searches 11



Figure 1. Location of the Shiloh IV Wind Project (yellow polygons) in the MHWRA, Solano County, California.



Figure 2. Northern turbines at Shiloh IV. A yellow icon indicates a turbine that was searched monthly for eagle carcasses. A blue

icon indicates a turbine that was searched in weekly rotation.



Figure 3. Middle turbines at Shiloh IV. A yellow icon indicates a turbine that was searched monthly for eagle carcasses. A blue icon

indicates a turbine that was searched in weekly rotation.



Figure 4. Southern turbines at Shiloh IV. A yellow icon indicates a turbine that was searched monthly for eagle carcasses. A blue

icon indicates a turbine that was searched in weekly rotation.



Introduction

This report provides the results of one year of monthly eagle fatality monitoring conducted at the

Shiloh IV Wind Project. This monitoring was required as a condition of an eagle take permit

that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereafter, the Service) issued in 2014. The Shiloh IV

Wind Project is located in the Montezuma Hills Wind Resource Area (MHWRA) in Solano

County, California. The permit allows the take (i.e., injury or killing) of a total of five Golden

Eagles over five years during operations and maintenance activities. Take is allowed only during

the five-year duration of the permit, but the permit is renewable.

An Eagle Conservation Plan (ECP; ICF International 2014) details post-construction monitoring

activities. To meet the requirements of Solano County, Shiloh IV is required to conduct three

years of monitoring, including a bird and bat fatality study (with weekly searches at half of

Shiloh IV’s 50 turbines), an avian abundance and behavior study, and a raptor nesting study.

The first two years of this monitoring effort have been reported (Kerlinger et al. 2014b, 2015b),

and the third year will be completed in March 2016.

The Service is requiring at least one year of monthly eagle fatality monitoring at all 50 turbines.

This monitoring began in September 2014 and was completed on 22 August 2015. Results are

reported herein.

Operating wind farms in the MHWRA have been studied for over 25 years, with the first studies

published in the late 1980s and early 1990s (Jones and Stokes Associates 1987, Howell and

DiDonato 1988, Orloff and Flannery 1992). Curry & Kerlinger began conducting pre-

construction avian monitoring studies and risk assessments about 15 years ago, with assessments

completed for High Winds (Kerlinger et al. 2001), Shiloh I (Kerlinger et al. 2005), Shiloh II

(Kerlinger et al. 2006a), Shiloh III (Kerlinger et al. 2009a), and Shiloh IV (Kerlinger et al. 2011).

We have also conducted 13 years of post-construction monitoring studies that have examined

avian and bat fatality and avian abundance and use. These include two years at High Winds

(Kerlinger et al. 2006b), three years at Shiloh I (Kerlinger et al. 2009b), three years at Shiloh II

(Kerlinger et al. 2012), three years at Shiloh III (Kerlinger et al. 2013, 2014a, 2015a), and two

years at Shiloh IV (Kerlinger et al. 2014b, 2015b). Together, these post-construction fatality

studies represent what appears to be the largest and longest-running fatality monitoring at a wind

resource area to date.

As of the end of 2012, 607 wind turbines with a total generating capacity of 1,024 MW were

operating in the MHWRA (Solano County Department of Resource Management 2012). Shiloh

IV included 50 (~8%) of those turbines and 102.5 MW (~10%) of the total generating capacity.

Its turbines began to produce electricity in December 2012. Those turbines have a nameplate

capacity of 2.05 MW, rotor diameters of 92 m, and hub heights of 78.5 m, except for five

turbines that have hub heights of 68.5 m (Kerlinger et al. 2014b, 2015b).

Topography and land use at Shiloh IV are similar to other wind farms in the MHWRA, with

rolling hills predominating, some reaching about 70 m in elevation above mean sea level. Land

use is entirely tilled agricultural. Fields are left fallow and then are grazed by cattle or sheep

once crops such as wheat, barley, and hay have been harvested. Other habitats within the



project’s general area are minimal by comparison, including eucalyptus groves, patches of native

oaks and junipers, and small cattail wetlands. Farms, some abandoned, are found throughout the

site. Suisun Marsh, an extensive and important wetland complex, is located as close as about 3.5

km west of turbines in area F, and the Sacramento River Deep Water Ship Channel is located as

close as about 4 km southeast of turbines in area J (Fig. 1).

Methods

Approximately every 30 days (Appendix A), all 50 of the Shiloh IV turbines were searched for

eagle carcasses along circular transects out to 120 m from turbine bases. The 120-m distance

extended beyond 117 m, which was the maximum distance that the ballistics model of Hull and

Muir (2010) predicted that a large bird, having collided with wind turbines, would be distributed.

The 30-day interval was chosen because evidence strongly suggested that larger birds,

particularly eagles, were unlikely to be removed completely by scavengers and were likely to

remain highly detectable for long periods of time. As explained in the ECP, a study that ICF

International (2012) conducted in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA) yielded an

estimate of overall detection probability (combining searcher efficiency and carcass persistence)

for Golden Eagles of 93% (95% CIs of 83% and 98%) at 30 days and 81% (62%, 94%) at 60

days. ICF International generated these estimates using a model that related carcass persistence

to wing area, because Golden Eagle carcasses were not available for trials. We suspect these

estimates are low. Anecdotal evidence from the APWRA suggests that Golden Eagle carcasses

can persist for many years, with the record set at 9 years, based on the discovery of additional

carcass parts from previously collected carcasses (H. Beeler, personal communication).

Turbines were divided into two groups: (1) the 25 turbines in weekly search rotation, and (2) the

25 turbines not in weekly search rotation (i.e., the unsearched turbines). To meet the

requirements of Solano County, turbines in weekly search rotation were searched along circular

transects that were 10 m apart from 100 m to 30 m from turbine bases and 5 m apart between 30

m and 5 m from turbine bases. Searchers used range finders to estimate distances from turbines

and recheck them periodically. To search those turbines out to 120 m, an additional transect was

added during the week when eagle searches were conducted.

Turbines not in weekly search rotation were also searched along circular transects, but the

interval between transects depended on vegetation height. In short vegetation (i.e., vegetation

<15 cm [<6 inches] in height), transects were spaced at 20 m, 60 m, and 100 m from turbines,

with searchers searching 20 m on each side of transects. In tall vegetation (i.e., vegetation >15

cm [>6 inches] in height), the interval between transects was reduced – because an eagle carcass

would be less evident – with transects located at 10 m, 30 m, 50 m, 70 m, 90 m, and 110 m from

turbines and searchers searching 10 m on each side of transects.

Had an eagle carcass been found in searches or incidentally (i.e., outside of searches), it would

have been documented and collected in accordance with an established protocol (see Kerlinger et

al. 2014b, 2015b), and the Service would have been notified immediately. Other birds and bats

found in areas searched only for eagles (i.e., beyond 105 m at 25 turbines searched in weekly

rotation, and anywhere in the other 25 search plots) were recorded as incidental finds.

HBeeler

Sticky Note

This quote can not be attributed to me. Please remove.



In the event of an eagle fatality, the fatality rate would be estimated using the fatality estimator

of Huso et al. (2012). Inputs to the estimator include searchable area, searcher efficiency (SE),

and carcass persistence (CP). In the case of this study, searchable area was 100% as searches

extended beyond the 117-m maximum distance from turbines that the Hull and Muir (2010)

ballistics model predicted that a large-bird carcass would fall.

Estimating SE and CP is problematic in the case of Golden Eagles because there are no surrogate

species that match them in bulk. The largest species available for SE and CP trials (because they

are collected as fatalities in the MHWRA) are Red-tailed Hawk (total length of 45-65 cm, mass

of 690-1,460 g; http://bna.birds.cornell.edu), Turkey Vulture (64-81 cm, 2,000 g), and Great

Horned Owl (46-63 cm, 910-2,500 g). Golden Eagles, however, are considerably bulkier (70-84

cm, 3,000-6,125 g).

Over 9 field seasons at Shiloh projects in the MHWRA, Curry & Kerlinger has run 71 SE/CP

trials with large birds (46 Red-tailed Hawks, 23 Turkey Vultures, and 2 Great Horned Owls), of

which 50 were in placed in short vegetation (<15 cm in height) and 21 in tall vegetation (>15 cm

in height). Using the fatality estimator of Huso et al. (2012) to calculate SE and CP, the SE rate

in short vegetation was found to be 0.98 (0.94, 1.00), while that in tall vegetation was found to

be 0.90 (0.76, 1.00). CP in short vegetation was found to be 26.3 (18.8, 47.3) days, while that in

tall vegetation was found to be 52.3 (24.5, >180) days, based on 14-day trials.

If enough Golden Eagle carcasses were available to sample SE and CP adequately, we believe

that SE would be very close to 1.00 and CP would be considerably longer. Thus, if a carcass

happened to be missed in the first search after collision, it or some evidence of it would likely be

discovered in the subsequent or following month.

Means are reported with their standard errors (mean ± SE).



Results

One year (12 monthly rounds) of eagle searches were conducted, amounting to 600 individual

turbine searches (Appendix A). There were also an additional 1,000 weekly searches out to 105

m at half of the turbines.

Visibility conditions were conducive to finding carcasses with short vegetation (<15 cm),

recorded in 73% of the searches. Tall vegetation (>15 cm) was recorded beginning in December

and was present through July (Fig. 5). Tall vegetation was found mainly where wheat was

grown. With wheat harvest in late July-early August, vegetation height returned to short by

August searches (Fig. 5).

No eagle carcasses were found. There were, however, three incidental finds of birds in areas that

did not overlap weekly search plots. They were:

• Red-winged Blackbird at turbine J5 on 21 January 2015. Feather spot judged to be <30

days old. Located 33 m from turbine at a bearing of 110 degrees.

• Western Meadowlark at turbine I2 on 18 April 2015. Feather spot judged to be <30

days old. Located 50 m from turbine at a bearing of 93 degrees.

• Turkey Vulture at turbine G3 on 20 June 2015. The carcass likely went through a

combine during wheat harvesting, given the scatter of feathers. The age of the collision

event could not be determined. Located 81 m from turbine at a bearing of 20 degrees.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

Figure 5. Vegetation height by month during

eagle searches (N = 50 turbines)

Short (<15 cm) Tall (>15 cm)



Discussion

To date, Curry & Kerlinger has, conducted the equivalent of 13 years (156 months) of fatality

monitoring in the MHWRA (see Introduction). This amounts to over 18,500 scheduled weekly

searches distributed among the High Winds and four Shiloh projects. This effort has recorded

two Golden Eagle fatalities in searches: one at High Winds in June 2004 and one at Shiloh I in

December 2007. There were also three incidental finds of Golden Eagles: an injured bird later

euthanized at Shiloh I in March 2007, a carcass near turbine B3 at Shiloh II in February 2013,

and a carcass at Shiloh III, close to the K turbines in Shiloh IV, in December 2013.

That no Golden Eagle carcass was recorded in one year of eagle fatality monitoring at Shiloh IV

is consistent with results to date in the MHWRA. Golden Eagle fatalities are rare. This is

probably because the species is an infrequent resident or transient in the MHWRA. Hunt (2007)

considered the MHWRA to be poor breeding habitat for Golden Eagles because of the relative

flatness of the terrain and the consequent lack of terrain-induced updrafts to facilitate hunting.

She also considered management practices that reduced prey species to be another reason for its

low abundance.

It is important to note that the frequency of Golden Eagle observations at Shiloh IV has declined

since 2007-2008. In a pre-construction study (April 2007-April 2008; Kerlinger et al. 2011) used

to inform the Services collision risk model (CRM), 74 hours of point-count sampling found the

observation rate of Golden Eagles to be 0.19 ± 0.05 birds/hour. In post-construction monitoring

(March 2013-March 2015; Kerlinger et al. 2014b, 2015b), 249 hours of point-count sampling

conducted by the same observer found an observation rate of 0.07 ± 0.02 birds/hour. The

difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0030). The observation rate at Shiloh III in 2012-

2014 was similar to that at Shiloh IV (Kerlinger et al. 2013, 2014a, 2015a).

In addition, 2007-2008 observations recorded 10 eagle-minutes at heights in the rotor-swept zone

or below, while 2013-2015 observations also recorded 10 eagle-minutes at those heights. Thus,

with more than three times the sampling recording the same number of eagle-minutes, the

collision rate as predicted by the Service’s CRM would be lower.

The proximate reason for this decline in eagle abundance at Shiloh IV appears to be a lack of

nesting eagles within the MHWRA, because Breeding Bird Survey data do not show a marked

decline in abundance in a sample of 49 routes in the Coastal California Bird Conservation

Region (Sauer et al. 2014). In 2007, Hunt (2007) confirmed one nesting pair in the MHWRA, on

the Callahan property, approximately 1.2 km east of Shiloh IV. Today, there are none, although

there was a recent (in 2012) but failed nesting attempt on a power-line pylon to the south of the

Callahan property (Smith, H.T. Hardy & Associates 2012).

Golden Eagle, however, has not disappeared regionally as a nesting species. There are four

known nest sites within 16 km of Shiloh IV, all outside the MHWRA, with the closest at Meins

Landing, 2.8 km from Shiloh IV, and Potrero Hills, 8 km distant (ICF International 2014).

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) lists threats to Golden Eagles in the

following order: “loss of foraging areas, loss of nesting habitat, pesticide poisoning, lead



poisoning and collision with man-made structures such as wind turbines.”1 With respect to the

first two causes, crop agriculture has reduced where Golden Eagles can efficiently forage in the

MHWRA, and raptor-nesting surveys (Kerlinger et al. 2014b, 2015b) have documented the

destruction of a number of raptor nests as a result of windstorms. Of the historical Golden Eagle

nests in the MHWRA, only the Masson Grove nest remains in much reduced dimensions (A.

Hasch, personal communication).

The CDFW’s list of threats to Golden Eagles did not include climate change. It would not be

surprising if it were found that the rise in temperatures and current drought in California are

affecting primary productivity and prey abundance in the MHWRA, making that landscape less

suitable to Golden Eagles.

It is important to note that eagle fatality monitoring covered 100% of searchable area on a

monthly basis, and close to 50% of searchable area on a weekly basis, at high rates of searcher

efficiency (SE) and carcass persistence (CP). SE and CP are difficult to determine for Golden

Eagle because there are no surrogates of equal bulk, but it is reasonable to assume that SE and

CP rates are greater for Golden Eagle than for other large birds of smaller bulk, particularly Red-

tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, and Great Horned Owl, for which there has been adequate SE and

CP testing in the MHWRA. Thus, had a Golden Eagle fatality occurred, it is highly likely that it

would have been found.

That no Golden Eagle carcasses were found during eagle fatality monitoring at Shiloh IV is in

line with results of long-term fatality monitoring in the MHWRA. Golden Eagle fatalities are

rarely recorded in the MHWRA, probably because the species is infrequent and not often at risk

of collision. Indeed, data show a significant decrease in Golden Eagle abundance in the vicinity

of Shiloh IV, probably because eagles are not nesting within the MHWRA. Thus, collision risk

has probably decreased as well.

Additional monthly eagle fatality monitoring is likely to produce the same result. Given that the

eagle take permit for Shiloh IV allows take of five Golden Eagles over five years, data from over

13 years of fatality monitoring, in addition to this study, strongly suggest little likelihood that

take will be exceeded. If anything, take is likely to be less than that estimated using the

Service’s collision risk model (CRM).

1 https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/raptors/goldeneagle/



Literature cited

Howell, J.A., and J.E. DiDonato. 1988. Raptor nesting survey related to wind turbine siting,

Montezuma Hills, Solano County, California, Spring, 1988. Prepared for Solano County Dept.

of Environ. Mgt., Fairfield, CA.

Hull, C., and S. Muir. 2010. Search areas for monitoring bird and bat carcasses at wind farms

using a Monte-Carlo model. Australian Journal of Environmental Management 17:77–87.

Hunt, T. 2007. A survey of breeding raptors in the vicinity of the Montezuma Hills Wind

Resource Area. Research report to Curry & Kerlinger, LLC. 19 pp.

Huso, M., N. Som, and L. Ladd. 2012. Fatality estimator user’s guide. U.S. Geological Survey

Data Series 729, 22 p.

ICF International. 2012. Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area Bird Fatality Study, Bird Years

2005–2010. May. Final. (ICF 00904.08.) Sacramento, CA. Prepared for Alameda County

Community Development Agency, Hayward, CA.

ICF International. 2014. Eagle Conservation Plan for the Shiloh IV Wind Project, Final.

Prepared for Shiloh IV Wind Project, LLC.

Jones and Stokes Associates. 1987. Bird abundance and movements in the Potrero Hills Wind

Turbine Site, Solano County, California. Prepared for Solano County Dept. of Environ. Mgt.,

Fairfield, CA.

Kerlinger, P., R. Curry, and L. Culp. 2001. Avian Monitoring Study and Risk Assessment for

the High Winds Wind Power Project, Solano County, California. Prepared for FPL Energy.

Kerlinger, P., R. Curry, and A. Hasch. 2005. Avian Monitoring Study and Risk Assessment for

the Shiloh Wind Power Project, Solano County, California. Prepared for enXco.

Kerlinger, P., R. Curry, C. Wilkerson, L. Culp, A. Hasch, and A. Jain. 2006a. Avian Monitoring

Study and Risk Assessment for the Shiloh Wind Power Project, Solano County, California.

Prepared for enXco.

Kerlinger, P., R. Curry, L. Culp, A. Jain, C. Wilkerson, B. Fischer, and A. Hasch. 2006b. Post-

Construction Avian and Bat Fatality Monitoring Study for the High Winds Wind Power Project,

Solano County, California: Two Year Report. Prepared for High Winds, LLC, and FPL Energy.

Kerlinger, P., R. Curry, C. Wilkerson, L. Culp, A. Hasch, and A. Jain. 2009a. Avian Monitoring

Study and Risk Assessment for the Shiloh IV Wind Power Project, Solano County, California.

Prepared for enXco.



Kerlinger, P., R. Curry, L. Culp, A. Hasch, and A. Jain. 2009b. Post-Construction Avian

Monitoring Study for the Shiloh I Wind Energy Project, Solano County, California: Final Report.

Prepared for Iberdrola Renewables.

Kerlinger, P., R. Curry, and A. Hasch. 2011. Avian Use Study and Risk Assessment, Shiloh IV

Wind Project, Solano County, California. Prepared for enXco. 203 p.

Kerlinger, P., R. Curry, A. Hasch, J. Guarnaccia, and D. Riser-Espinoza. 2012. Post-

construction bird and bat studies at the Shiloh II Wind Power Project, Solano County, California.

Report prepared for EDF Renewables, USA.

Kerlinger, P., R. Curry, A. Hasch, J. Guarnaccia, and D. Riser-Espinoza. 2013. Post-

construction bird and bat studies at the Shiloh III Wind Power Project, Solano County,

California, report on year 1 results. Prepared for EDF Renewable Energy, Inc.

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bird and bat studies at the Shiloh III Wind Project, Solano County, California, report on year 2

results. Prepared for Shiloh III Wind Project, LLC.

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studies at the Shiloh IV Wind Power Project, Solano County, California, report on year 1 results.

Prepared for EDF Renewable Energy, Inc.

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studies, Shiloh III Wind Power Project, Solano County, California, final report. Prepared for

Shiloh III Wind Project, LLC.

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studies, Shiloh IV Wind Power Project, Solano County, California, final report. Prepared for

Shiloh IV Wind Project, LLC.

Orloff, S., and A. Flannery. 1992. Wind Turbine Effects on Avian Activity, Habitat Use, and

Mortality in Altamont Pass and Solano County Wind Resource Areas. Work performed by

BioSystems Analysis, Inc., Tiburon, CA. Sacramento, CA: California Energy Commission.

Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, J. E. Fallon, K. L. Pardieck, D. J. Ziolkowski, Jr., and W. A. Link. 2014.

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01.30.2015 USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD

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Facilities, Montezuma Hills Area. Fairfield, CA. 3 pp.



Appendix A. Monthly eagle searches conducted

= turbine in weekly search rotation

2014 2015

Turbines

13-18

Sep

14-18

Oct

16-22

Nov

16-21

Dec

19-24

Jan

19-22

Feb

20-24

Mar

14-19

Apr

12-18

May

16-21

Jun

14-20

Jul

18-22

Aug Total

F1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

F2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G12 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G13 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G14 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G15 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G16 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G17 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G18 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G19 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G20 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G21 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

G22 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12



Appendix A, continued. Monthly eagle searches conducted


2014 2015

Turbines

13-18

Sep

14-18

Oct

16-22

Nov

16-21

Dec

19-24

Jan

19-22

Feb

20-24

Mar

14-19

Apr

12-18

May

16-21

Jun

14-20

Jul

18-22

Aug Total

G23 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

H1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

H2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

H3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

H5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

H6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

H7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

H8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

H9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

H10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

H11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

I1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

I2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

I3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

I4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

J1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

J2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

J3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

J4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

J5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

J6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

J7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

J8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

J9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12



Appendix A, continued. Monthly eagle searches conducted


2014 2015

Turbines

13-18

Sep

14-18

Oct

16-22

Nov

16-21

Dec

19-24

Jan

19-22

Feb

20-24

Mar

14-19

Apr

12-18

May

16-21

Jun

14-20

Jul

18-22

Aug Total

K1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

K2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 600

eagle fatality monitoring report shiloh iv wind …...curry & kerlinger, llc paul kerlinger,...

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