Abstract With the rapid expansion of wind power generation, concerns have grown over bird collisions with turbines, particularly involving rare species such as the White-tailed Eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla ). To evaluate potential impacts, we compared bird distribution estimates from roadside surveys with flight activity data from point censuses. Roadside surveys were conducted along a 110.4 km route over a one-year period, while point censuses were carried out at 33 sites—18 wind facilities and 15 control areas—to measure flight frequencies. Species distribution models were developed using MaxEnt, and their outputs were compared with point census results using generalized linear models. White-tailed Eagles showed the highest flight probability near coastlines, influenced by elevation and proximity to secondary forests. Slaty-backed Gulls ( Larus schistisagus ) were primarily associated with coastal proximity and artificial structures, with frequent flights in coastal and urban areas. Crows ( Corvus spp.) exhibited high activity near fishing ports and livestock farms, reflecting their association with human structures. MaxEnt estimates of Slaty-backed Gulls and crows significantly predicted point census flight frequencies in GLM analysis. These results demonstrate that roadside surveys can efficiently and reliably estimate bird distributions in open landscapes with good visibility. Compared with point censuses, they offer a more cost-effective approach, making them a practical tool for environmental impact assessments and bird collision risk evaluations-especially in regions with limited resources.
Barada et al. (Wed,) studied this question.