New York State
Environmental Technical Working Group
Specialist Committees
Bird Communications
The New York State Environmental Technical Working Group (E-TWG) formed a specialist committee in December 2024 to develop communications materials to aid in the dissemination of accurate, science-based information around the potential impacts to birds from offshore wind energy development (Committee Workplan). The committee developed a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) as a resource for stakeholders who communicate directly with the general public and receive questions related to birds and offshore wind energy development. This effort provides scientifically sound, accurate answers to address common questions.
Committee member organizations included APEM Limited | Attentive Energy | Duke University | Equinor | Maine Audubon | Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management | National Audubon Society | National Wildlife Federation | New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection | NOAA Fisheries | Normandeau Associates | Ørsted | Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative | Royal Society for the Protection of Birds | The Nature Conservancy | Virginia Dept. of Wildlife Resources
Use the FAQ Themes or Table of Contents below to navigate to the main points of individual FAQ responses. Or view the FAQ document that includes both the main points and detailed responses with citations, as well as additional resources to aid in the dissemination of the FAQ document:
FAQ Document Version History:
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Version 1 (April 2026): Includes introduction and 16 FAQ responses
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Version 2 (October 2026): Includes introduction and 23 FAQ responses
Go back to the Offshore Wind & Wildlife FAQ main page
Frequently Asked
Questions
I. Foundational Questions and the U.S. Atlantic Context
Why are we talking about birds and offshore wind energy development?
What are the major components of an offshore wind facility?
Where and when are birds found in U.S. Atlantic offshore environments?
Which birds are most likely to be affected by offshore wind energy development in the U.S. Atlantic?
How do sources of bird mortality compare, including mortality related to offshore wind energy development?
How do the potential benefits and risks from offshore wind energy development compare for birds?
How can offshore wind energy best be developed in the face of scientific uncertainty regarding impacts on birds?
II. Offshore Wind Energy Development’s Potential Effects on Birds
What are the potential effects to birds from offshore wind energy development?
What factors determine risk to birds from offshore wind energy development?
Does offshore wind energy development kill birds?
Does offshore wind energy development alter birds' behavior, movement patterns, and habitat use?
How many birds are impacted by offshore wind energy development in the U.S. Atlantic?
How do we assess the risk of birds colliding with offshore wind turbines?
What do we know about the frequency of bird collisions at offshore wind facilities?
IV. Monitoring, Mitigation, and Technology
How is bird monitoring conducted at offshore wind facilities?
What methods are available to protect birds from potential effects of offshore wind energy development?
How is light pollution minimized at offshore wind facilities?
What is turbine shutdown (or “curtailment”) and can it minimize bird collision risk?
What non-regulatory actions improve understanding of bird interactions with offshore wind energy development?
What is compensatory mitigation and how does it apply to birds and offshore wind energy development?
V. Regulatory Context and Requirements
What federal environmental laws and international agreements protect birds?
What does "take" mean for birds?
What bird-related permits, approvals, and authorizations do offshore wind developers need to obtain?
Other Resources
There are a variety of science communications materials and science-based information available on wildlife and offshore wind energy development in our webinar library, and selected external resources for learning more are also available here.
Photo credits: JuWind farm © David Will, Pixabay