Vulnerable birds to collide against wind towers in Rivas, Nicaragua, before construction

Authors

  • José Manuel Zolotoff Pallais Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho. Fundación Cocibolca, Nicaragua

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5377/elhigo.v11i1.11725

Keywords:

Collision risk, environmental impact assessment, vulnerability index, wind generator

Abstract

A Bird Vulnerability Index (BVI) and Potential Vulnerability Map (PVM) was applied to determine which are the most susceptible bird species to collide with wind towers and the riskiest sites, in a wind power plant south from the city of Rivas. Transects were placed in two areas where the towers would be placed: Grasslands without Trees and Grasslands with Trees. Transects were also made in adjacent habitats such as Lake Nicaragua Coast and Riparian Forest. The BVI was calculated with nine factors (Flight Height, Type of Flight, Wingspan, Weight, Status, Abundance, Reproductive Status, International and National Conservation Status). The total PVM was calculated from all detected species, and average PMV only using species that exceeded the specific BVI median. The risk of habitat collision was calculated by determining that less of 50th percentile is considered to be low risk, and high risk when the percentile is greater than 50. The highest vulnerability index is found in the species: Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway), Nicaraguan Grackle (Quiscalus nicaraguensis), and Great Heron (Ardea herodias). The riparian forest and grassland with trees are the sites with the highest risk of collision to install wind towers. The BVI and PVM are important tools that allow the identification of potential risks of bird collision with wind towers before their construction.

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Author Biography

José Manuel Zolotoff Pallais, Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho. Fundación Cocibolca, Nicaragua

Licenciado en Ecología y Recursos Naturales. Diplomado en Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental, Economía de RN, Gestión Ambiental, y Servicios Ambientales. Con 22 años de experiencia en ornitología a nivel nacional. Siete años de experiencia en monitoreo de fauna en centrales eólicas en Nicaragua y otros países en Centroamérica. Ha dictado múltiples talleres sobre identificación y conservación de aves en Nicaragua. Director del Área de Investigación y Capacitación de Fundación Cocibolca, para la Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho desde 1996, Granada. Es autor de varios artículos científicos sobre conservación de aves entre estos Areas Importantes para Aves en Nicaragua, Estado de Conservación de Aves Acuáticas y sus Habitas en Nicaragua, Areas Claves de Biodiversidad en Nicaragua, así como co autor de la lista roja de especies de aves en peligro en Nicaragua.

Published

2021-06-22

How to Cite

Zolotoff Pallais, J. M. (2021). Vulnerable birds to collide against wind towers in Rivas, Nicaragua, before construction. The Scientific Journal "El Higo&Quot;, 11(1), 69–88. https://doi.org/10.5377/elhigo.v11i1.11725

Issue

Section

Scientific articles