Pandion News

May 2009
The U.S. Department of Energy selected Pandion's wind energy environmental impact project entitled "A Habitat-Based Wind-Wildlife Risk Tool With Application to the Upper Great Plains Region: Collisions and Habitat Displacement."

The project objective is to develop a spatial tool that characterizes risk for bird and bat species that are potentially susceptible to collisions with wind turbines and habitat displacement from wind farms based on the species’ habitat characteristics.

This tool will be developed using the Upper Great Plains Region, a region of high potential for wind development, as a demonstration of its use, but can be applied to wind project decision-making for birds and bats in other regions and subregions of the U.S.

Pandion specializes in addressing the effects of energy development on wildlife through science-based ecological and communications services.

May 2009
NYSERDA study compares wildlife effects from energy sources. The Environmental Bioindicators Foundation (EBIF) and Pandion coauthored this comparison of known wildlife effects from six renewable and non-renewable energy sources: coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, and wind. The study was sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Pandion specializes in addressing the effects of energy development on wildlife through science-based ecological and communications services.

EBIF is an educational, scientific, and literary nonprofit organization that regularly promotes and performs research related to environmental bioindicators or biomarkers.

View the Executive Summary >>

View the Study >>

April 2009
Pandion will be exhibiting at WINDPOWER 2009 in Chicago (Booth 5719), and we hope to see you there. Visit us at our booth, at our MMS poster presentation on the potential interactions between endangered birds and offshore wind development, and at the WindWise Education booth #5619.

WindWise Education invites you to a special WINDPOWER presentation, Tuesday, May 6th from 6:00 - 7:00 PM in the West Building of the Exhibit Hall Room # W175C. We will be talking about the program, partnership opportunities, and ways you can have WindWise implemented in your area.

Pandion specializes in both onshore and offshore wind projects, working with industry, government, and nonprofits to resolve wind-wildlife issues through studies, research, facilitation, and community outreach.

March 2009
Updated: Research finds wind power poses least risk to wildlife. Christian Newman, President of Pandion Systems, Inc., has presented findings of a study completed for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority at several conferences and webinars, including the American Wind Energy Association's annual conference in Houston. This presentation has been updated since it was originally posted in June 2008 and January 2009.

View the Updated Presentation >>

February 2009
Pandion hosted the webinar, "Bird Impacts From Offshore Wind Facilities: Lessons From Europe," featuring Dr. Mark Desholm. Dr. Desholm is one of the world’s leading experts on bird impacts from offshore wind facilities. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Biodiversity at the National Environmental Research Institute of Denmark.

Dr. Desholm’s ground-breaking original research publications in this area span a broad range of topics, including collision risk modeling, effect of avoidance rates on bird mortality, and field research on different remote sensing technologies for mortality monitoring.

Dr. Desholm is serving as a technical advisor to Pandion on a contract with the U.S. Minerals Management Service to assess the potential impacts to three federally endangered species from offshore wind development. The project manager is Caleb Gordon.

Watch the webinar >>

October 2008
Pandion approved to provide training for Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent Permits. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has approved Pandion to provide training courses to help applicants meet requirements for the Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent Permit. Please contact Peter Colverson for more information: 352-372-4747 x3270.

Registration and details >>

July 29, 2008
Babcock Ranch Preserve Management Plan approved. The State of Florida Board of Trustees approved the management plan for Babcock Ranch Preserve on July 29, 2008. The plan represents over a year and a half of meetings, discussions, negotiations, and collective input and feedback. Because of the unique public-private partnership and the many groups involved, Pandion designed a unique consensus-based process that also met Florida Statutes requirements to create the plan.

The success of this plan was dependent on the collaborative efforts of the agencies, counties, and organizations responsible for the management, oversight, and/or ownership of the Preserve (referred to as the Plan Partners), who worked closely together to design this plan with input from the Management Advisory Group (key stakeholders) and the public. The Plan Partners include: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Division of Forestry, Lee County, Babcock Ranch, LLC, Babcock Ranch, Inc., and Charlotte County. The Division of State Lands worked closely with the project team to facilitate the plan’s review and final approval. This plan would not have been possible without the efforts of all involved.

Visit the project website and download the plan >>