Flight characteristics forecast entry by eagles into rotor‐swept zones of wind turbines

Operators of wind power facilities can mitigate wildlife mortality by slowing or stopping turbines (hereafter ‘curtail’) when birds are at an increased risk collision. Some facility operators curtail individual have flight characteristics (e.g. altitude, distance relative bearing a bird's path) that exceed some threshold value, but thresholds currently in use not been empirically evaluated. Overly restrictive cause turbine curtailment for never enter rotor-swept zones, thereby resulting excess loss. We evaluated the probability birds, specifically eagles, entered zone ‘entry probability’) response to their characteristics. used automated monitoring system classify individuals as eagles non-eagles and record paths purported Wyoming, USA. logistic regression with occupancy dynamics distance-dependent colonization process model entry probability. As result, this allowed decrease horizontal nearest turbine. The varied approached zero was more than 202 m. Entry peaked flew 89 m above ground, corresponding hub heights (80 m), decreased near-zero altitudes 189 more. probabilities were greatest near slowly toward Compass path associated Our accurately forecasted Wyoming (area under curve (AUC) = 0.96) transferable another California, USA (AUC 0.97); therefore, our results may be applicable across variety settings. Curtailment criteria based on forecast into zones. altitude making decisions is justified. However, analysis suggests alteration time collision threshold, initiated greater distances speed bird decreases. novel modelling method inform any situation where made real-time.