Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...

Affected Environment
Avian observations included species that would be expected to occur in this area and
included raptors, shorebirds, waterbirds, waterfowl, passerine and non-passerine species.
The number of raptors was very low.
Bird species that were observed in flocks of over 100 individuals within a survey period
included Tree Swallow, Flicker, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. By far, the largest
numbers of birds observed were flocks of migrating Snow Geese numbering in the
hundreds and even thousands.
Over 81 percent of the recorded flight heights were between 0 and 50 feet above ground,
although larger flocks of birds were generally seen at heights over 100 feet above ground
or resting in marshes. Less than 2 percent of the observed birds were within the proposed
wind turbines’ rotor sweep zone; they were generally hunting or feeding and observed in
the August/September time period.
Three State-listed species (Bald Eagle, Gull-billed Tern, and Peregrine Falcon) were
observed during the surveys. Red Knot, a USFWS-candidate species, was observed
during one survey. No federally listed species were documented during the survey. Piping
Plover (federally and State threatened) and Upland Sandpiper (State threatened) are listed
species found in the local area but were not observed during the surveys, likely due to
lack of habitat in the areas surveyed.
Documented bird and bat fatalities were greatest at the taller South Meteorological Tower
(16) than the shorter, guyed, North Boresight Tower (7). There were no documented
fatalities at the unguyed South Boresight Tower.
Fatality rates of 28 and a range of 44 to 72 per tower per year were calculated for the
North Boresight and South Meteorological towers, respectively.
3.2.3.2 Bats
Fifteen species of bat occur in Virginia, based on their normal geographical range. There are six
Myotis species in Virginia, including the gray bat (Myotis grisescens), little brown bat (M.
lucifugus), northern long-eared bat (M. septentrionalis), Indiana bat (M. sodalis), eastern
smallfooted bat (M. leibii), and southeastern myotis (M. austroriparius). Other species include
silverhaired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), eastern pipistrelle (Perimyotis [=Pipistrellus]
subflavus), big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), eastern red bat
(Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (L. cinereus), seminole bat (L. seminolus), Rafinesque’s big-eared
bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), and the Virginia big-eared bat (C. townsendii virginianus)
(VDGIF, 2009).
Of these, the Indiana bat, gray bat, and Virginia big-eared bat are listed as federally endangered
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Rafinesque’s big-eared bat is listed as State
endangered. The three federally protected species live in the western parts of Virginia (see
Figure 13) and do not likely inhabit or migrate in the vicinity of WFF. Wallops Island lies within
the distribution range of Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (VDGIF, 2009).
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