How is bird mortality estimated at wind farms?
Post construction bird mortality studies are difficult to evaluate. Each project and each state have developed their own protocol and what wildlife to focus on. California does not survey for small birds (only raptors) while Texas has not conducted any mortality studies to date. Adding to the uncertainty are two large variables, scavenging of dead birds and surveyor inefficiency. Both of these variables have been addressed through statistical models, but there remains a great need for an independent evaluation of post mortality studies and standardization of the methodology used.
