B11 - Avian Use of Operational Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy Facilities in New York State and Western Massachusetts – Preliminary Results and Next Steps

Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy development in the northeastern U.S. is rapidly growing, dominated by the installation of ground-mounted projects. Most PV projects in the region are built on farmlands and in early successional and forested habitats, and there is increasing concern by regulatory agencies and other stakeholders about potential impacts to declining wildlife species associated with these habitats such as grassland and shrubland birds. However, understanding of PV effects on birds and other wildlife species is limited and most studies to-date have focused on potential negative impacts, such as bird fatalities, at large-scale facilities (>50 MW) in habitats and regions (e.g., desert southwest) that may not be relevant to other regions. Additionally, research examining habitat-related outcomes for birds from solar development is limited and there are currently no published studies that examine breeding bird communities associated with solar facilities in the northeast. To address some of these knowledge gaps, we initiated a two-year research study in May 2021 to identify and document avian species and communities at operational solar facilities and paired reference sites in New York State and western Massachusetts. The first year of surveys was completed at nine operational PV solar sites and paired reference sites from late-May to late-July. Preliminary findings indicate that operational sites in the region are being used by multiple avian species for both nesting and foraging and that PV solar facilities have similar species richness compared to paired reference sites; however, relative abundance was highly variable. We suspect that most of the variation is related to vegetation cover and management regimes at the solar sites and paired reference sites. A second year of surveys will be completed this year (2022). This poster will summarize preliminary results from our research and discuss how findings may help to inform future PV siting decisions and spatial planning, identify effective management practices that will improve benefits to birds while reducing potential negative impacts from PV solar energy development in the northeastern U.S., and direct future research.