Proposed changes to environmental laws often negatively impact the ecosystems and animals they are trying to protect. Here, I provide guidance for submitting comment letters for proposed rule changes so they have maximum credibility when they are reviewed by regulators.
Meta-analysis across eight wind faciltiies shows curtailment to be an effective approach for reducing bat collisions
Research identifies the most important topics to improve understanding of offshore wind's impacts on birds and bats
Painting wind turbine blades in a different color has shown promising results for reducing bird fatalities.
A summary of the new 2024 federal regulations for permitting incidental take of bald and golden eagles
How bird and bat conservation strategies are used in wind energy projects
When and why a biological assessment is needed when permitting an energy project
The best subreddits for wildlife professionals and the types of content they offer
Offshore wind bird and bat post-construction monitoring with Acoustic and Thermographic Offshore Monitoring (ATOM)
My summary of a YouTube video describing blogging guidelines for scientists communicating research to the general public
My summary about a YouTube video on tweeting for science and sustainability
ThermalTracker-3D uses thermal and visible-light cameras and image recognition software for bird and bat activity monitoring offshore.
Regulation
On March 31, 2023, the northern long-eared bat became listed as an endangered species, primarily due to population declines from white-nose syndrome.
My Research
Smart curtailment technology reduces bat mortality by shutting down turbines when bats are present and wind speeds are moderate
Wind-Wildlife Research
Floating offshore wind turbines promise the ability to develop wind capacity in deep water, but what challenges will wildlife face?
Technology
BatRack is a remote sensing tool that uses a combination of acoustic, video, and radio telemetry to survey bats within small, defined areas.
My Research
We collaborated with a wind developer and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to develop an Eagle Conservation Plan for an Oklahoma wind facility.
My Research
We present a model for predicting electrocution risk of bald eagles and wood storks on distribution poles in Florida.
My Research
This study presents the results of a landfill’s bird surveys and recommends a bird control plan to minimize gull activity and associated hazards.
My Research
Eagle nest monitoring is required when human disturbance occurs within 660 feet of an active nest. Here the basic nest monitoring and reporting requirements are described.
Wind-Wildlife Research
Landscape spatial models inform collision risks for birds and bats in the central United States
My Research
Landscape habitat variables can influence wetland breeding birds’ occupancy of an area. This research examines the effects of landscape habitat variables on wetland birds in the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States.
My Research
The invasive Monk Parakeet commonly nests on electric utility structures, which can cause power outages when the nest touches energized hardware. I evaluated how Monk Parakeet distributions changed in south Florida from 2001 to 2007 to determine where current and future outages would be most likely.
My Research
My Master’s work compared two different double-observer point count methods for surveying birds. The approach where both observers worked together performed better than the approach where observers worked independently.
