Appalachian Wind Energy Development & Migrating Raptors: a Collision Course?  

The Conservation Through Education Lecture Series will kick off its third season on Monday, January 28, 2008, at 8:00 pm, when Dr. David Brandes visits to share what is being learned about the impacts of wind turbine proliferation and its impact on birds of prey, in particular, the golden eagle.

David Brandes is an Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Lafayette College in Easton . He is also a Visiting Scientist at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary where he is developing a raptor migration model to predict low-risk locations for wind turbines (funded by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wild Resource Conservation Fund). He is part of a collaboration of scientists using satellite telemetry and modeling to learn more about golden eagle migration and wintering behavior throughout the Appalachian region (see www.aviary.org/csrv/goldeneagles.php).

He is also the founder of the Tussey Mountain Spring Eagle Watch near State College and has authored a variety of papers and presentations on golden eagle migration, raptor migration modeling, and the potential impacts of windpower development on migrating raptors in the Appalachian region.

The program will be held in East Stroudsburg University ’s Moore Biology Building lecture hall. The Conservation Through Education Lecture Series is funded by the Kettle Creek Environmental Fund.