Abstract
The primary goals of monitoring development at Buffalo Ridge are to evaluate risk to avian species from each phase of development and the cumulative risk to avian species from all windpower development in the WRA. The secondary goal of monitoring is to provide information that can be used to reduce risk to avian species from subsequent developments (Strickland et al. 1996). This paper describes the methods contained in the protocol and presents selected results of avian monitoring studies conducted by WEST in 1996. Most previous studies of windpower/avian interactions have emphasized assessing effects on raptors. Due to relatively low abundance of raptors on Buffalo Ridge, and based on conversations with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources personnel, this study emphasized assessing effects of windpower on passerines, waterbirds, and waterfowl.