Eagles and Wind Turbines: Using Maps to Protect Animals and Increase Renewable Energy Use

Energy sources affect many systems, such as economics, politics and, of course, ecosystems. When considering energy sources’ effects on ecosystems, the discourse typically focuses on emissions and climate change. Wind turbines can pose an additional risk, however. A study in the Wildlife Society Bulletin (Smallwood, 2013) estimated that more than 500,000 birds are killed by wind turbines in the United States every year. Among these birds are endangered or recovered species, such as the bald eagle. In this lesson, students will examine the trade-offs between wind energy projects and bald eagle habitats in Pennsylvania. Students will identify a site for the construction of a new wind turbine that is effective and safe to wildlife, based on federally supplied data. Students will also have an opportunity to use ArcGIS Online (AGO), a tool used by geographers and other professionals, to collect and analyze data, study geographic patterns, and make planning decisions. We have provided publicly accessible versions of the learning materials using the embedded URLs, or teachers can request their own free AGO accounts for student use at https://www.esri.com/en-us/industries/education/ schools/schools-mapping-software-bundle. While this lesson is focused on Pennsylvania, educators in other parts of the country can easily adapt the materials to their own geographic areas, given that wind power is ubiquitous and that bald eagles are native to the entire continental United States. Alternatively, the lesson can be adapted to focus on other local bird species, all of which will have the same concerns regarding wind turbines.