Burrowing Owl Mortality in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area

摘要: Abstract We estimated wind turbines in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA), California, USA, kill >100 burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) annually, or about same number likely nesting APWRA. Turbine-caused mortality was up to 12 times greater areas of rodent control, where flights close rotor plane were disproportionately more common and fatalities twice as frequent expected. Mortality highest during January through March. Burrowing flew within 50 m 10 longer than expected, they sparsest turbine fields, by on tubular towers, at edges gaps row, canyons, lower elevations. They perched, operating blades, collided often with most cattle dung 20 m, densities ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) burrow systems 15 bu...