MDC Partnering on Research About Bald Eagles and Wind Turbines in Atchison County

With wind energy growing increasingly common and more wind turbines dotting the landscape in northwest Missouri, the threat to eagles and other birds is an increasing concern to conservation organizations and others.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is partnering with Conservation Science Global, Inc. (CSG) and the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI) on a research project in northwest Missouri concerning interactions between bald eagles and wind turbines.

The project focuses on eagles near the Atchison Renewable Energy Center in Atchison County and other wind-energy resources in the area.

The multi-year project involves capturing four adult eagles that nest in the area and four immature eaglets from nests in the area.

Researchers will fit the eagles with global positioning system (GPS) tags on their backs.

The tags collect GPS data every five seconds and provide information on location, flight speed, altitude, and direction of movement.

Tagging of the eaglets will occur in May.

For more information on the ongoing project, contact MDC Resource Scientist Janet Haslerig at 573-751-4115 extension 3198.