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Impacts to Birds and Bats Due to Collisions and Electrocutions from Some Tall Structures in the United States: Wires, Towers, Turbines, and Solar Arrays—State of the Art in Addressing the Problems

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Problematic Wildlife

Abstract

This chapter reviews the current status of bird and bat populations in the contiguous United States, along with growing concerns about declines in populations of both birds (366 [36 %] of 1027 protected migratory bird species in North America) and bats (6 of 45 species federally listed as endangered in the contiguous U.S.), many from the effects of human-made structures. Specifically, this chapter assesses the human-related causes of bird and bat mortality in the U.S. due primarily to collisions and electrocutions with tall structures and known effects of nonionizing radiation from antennas. These structural effects include impacts from power transmission and distribution lines, communication towers, commercial land-based wind turbines, and industrial solar arrays. Accepted and scientifically validated conservation measures for avoiding and minimizing direct “take” (i.e., the legal term for un-permitted injury or death) are discussed. The indirect effects to migratory birds and their habitats and direct and indirect negative impacts on bats (Microchiroptera) caused primarily by land-based wind turbines are evaluated. Suggested mitigation tools are based on innovative scientifically supported best practices, best available technologies, and accepted conservation measures. Several ongoing partnerships between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, other action agencies that implement regulations and guidelines, and industry stakeholder groups are described as examples of successful industry-agency-stakeholder coordination, partnership, and initiatives. The consequences of inaction are briefly reviewed.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A document this author helped craft and negotiate.

  2. 2.

    Coauthored by this author.

  3. 3.

    Coauthored by this author.

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    Coauthored by this author.

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    Cowritten by this author

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank B. Blake Levitt, medical/science journalist, author, and former contributor to the New York Times; J. Kalina, Ph.D., author and conservation biologist; J.E. Pagel, Ph.D., raptor ecologist and wildlife biologist; and two anonymous referees for their critical review, constructive comments, and suggested changes to this document.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Academic Programs, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, USA

    Albert M. Manville II

  2. Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Solutions LLC, Falls Church, VA, 22043, USA

    Albert M. Manville II

  3. Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington, VA, USA

    Albert M. Manville II

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Correspondence to Albert M. Manville II .

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  1. FIZV, Rome, Italy

    Francesco M. Angelici

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Manville, A.M. (2016). Impacts to Birds and Bats Due to Collisions and Electrocutions from Some Tall Structures in the United States: Wires, Towers, Turbines, and Solar Arrays—State of the Art in Addressing the Problems. In: Angelici, F. (eds) Problematic Wildlife. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22246-2_20

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