Ganeshkumar Zende and C.P. Hase
Abstract
The expansion of wind energy in ecologically sensitive landscapes necessitates rigorous field-based assessments of wildlife responses. This study evaluated avian diversity, habitat utilization, and spatial distribution patterns surrounding the Palsi Wind Power Project in the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra. Between August 2018 and June 2021, bird surveys were conducted using repeated fixed-width line transects within the wind farm and a 2 km buffer zone. We documented 160 bird species across 114 genera and 43 families, comprising 127 residents, 30 winter visitors, and three passage migrants. Insectivores were the most represented guild (81 species), followed by granivores (21), raptors (19), omnivores (16), frugivores (13), nectarivores (six), aquatic feeders (three), and one piscivore. While breeding-season species richness was comparable between the wind farm (78 species) and the buffer zone (79 species), diversity and evenness were marginally higher outside the turbine-influenced area. Forest habitats consistently supported the greatest species richness and density. Our findings suggest that while the presence of turbines did not result in a significant landscape-scale reduction in species richness, habitat-specific dynamics and the presence of raptors highlight critical ecological sensitivities. We recommend ongoing monitoring and the adoption of biodiversity-sensitive management strategies to mitigate impacts in this fragile ecosystem.