Abstract
There are many issues affecting migratory bird species, including habitat alterations to breeding, migration, and wintering sites. Little is known about the potential impacts of nearshore and offshore wind energy development on migrating waterfowl and water birds using the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron in Michigan. Potential impacts could be direct, such as collisions with turbines, or indirect, such as displacement from critical migration stopover sites used for feeding and loafing. Tax credits, renewable energy mandates, and a strong desire for non-polluting energy sources have increased the use and development of wind energy world-wide. According to the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth, the Great Lakes and their coasts are specifically targeted for increases in wind farm development due to their propensity for high, steady winds. In September 2009, the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Council (GLOW Council)delineated almost the entire Saginaw Bay as areas of “Most Favorable” or “Conditional” offshore wind development, with few areas of “Categorical Exclusion”. With water depths of <30 m, Saginaw Bay also provides for feasible and economical turbine construction (Mikinetics Consulting and Private Sector Consultants 2009). This information was provided to Governor Jennifer Granholm in part to help focus development efforts. Saginaw Bay has a combination of high winds, proximity to load centers (e.g., large urban areas) for interconnection, and water depths needed to construct turbine foundations tolerant of ice cover