Revised Marine Bird Collision and Displacement Vulnerability Index for U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Wind Energy Development

Kelsey, E.C., Felis, J.J., Pereksta, D.M., and Adams, J., 2025, Revised marine bird collision and displacement vulnerability index for U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf offshore wind energy development: U.S. Geological Survey Data Report 1214, 32 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/dr1214.

@techreport{Kelsey-2025-2084763,
author = {Kelsey, E and Felis, J and Pereksta, D and Adams, J},
title = {Revised Marine Bird Collision and Displacement Vulnerability Index for U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Wind Energy Development},
institution = {US Geological Survey (USGS)},
year = {2025},
month = {aug},
number = {Data Report 1214},
doi = {10.3133/dr1214},
url = {https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/dr1214},
keywords = {Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind, Collision, Displacement, Birds},
}

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TY - RPRT
TI - Revised Marine Bird Collision and Displacement Vulnerability Index for U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Wind Energy Development
AU - Kelsey, E
AU - Felis, J
AU - Pereksta, D
AU - Adams, J
AB - The installation of offshore wind energy infrastructure (OWEI) at sea may affect marine birds by increasing the risk of mortality from collision with OWEI (Collision Vulnerability) and causing disturbance and displacement from important habitats (Displacement Vulnerability). In 2017, we published the first comprehensive database quantifying marine bird Collision Vulnerability and Displacement Vulnerability to potential OWEI in the region of the U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (POCS; waters within the Exclusive Economic Zone of California, Oregon, and Washington). We have updated this Vulnerability Index with new research and data, additional species present in the POCS, and an evolved understanding of the application and utility of the Index. Of the species assessed, phalaropes and Red-billed Tropicbird have the highest Collision Vulnerability, and gulls, terns, jaegers, skuas, and pelicans have moderately high Collision Vulnerability. Boobies, sea ducks, and pelicans have the greatest Displacement Vulnerability. The overall trends in ranked Vulnerability among marine birds in the POCS were consistent between Version 1 and Version 2 although new data and revised calculations updated the outcomes. Alcids, loons, storm-petrels, Brant, and phalaropes ranked higher for Collision Vulnerability in Version 2 compared to Version 1; sea ducks, cormorants, skua, and jaegers ranked lower for Collision Vulnerability in Version 2 compared to Version 1. Displacement Vulnerability ranks were higher in Version 2 for gulls, pelicans, sea ducks, and alcids and lower for albatrosses, terns, and loons. Vulnerability Index Version 2 is an up-to-date, representative, and transparent assessment of marine bird vulnerability to potential offshore wind energy development. This updated Vulnerability Index can assist resource managers and others in understanding and addressing potential interactions between OWEI and marine bird species that inhabit the POCS.Associated data for this publication:Kelsey, E.C., Felis, J.J., Pereksta, D.M., and Adams, J., 2025, Data for the revised marine bird Collision and Displacement Vulnerability Index for Pacific Outer Continental Shelf offshore wind energy development: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P1OUOM9W
DA - 2025/08//
PY - 2025
SP - 44
PB - US Geological Survey (USGS)
SN - Data Report 1214
UR - https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/dr1214
DO - 10.3133/dr1214
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Floating Offshore Wind
KW - Collision
KW - Displacement
KW - Birds
ER -

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Abstract

The installation of offshore wind energy infrastructure (OWEI) at sea may affect marine birds by increasing the risk of mortality from collision with OWEI (Collision Vulnerability) and causing disturbance and displacement from important habitats (Displacement Vulnerability). In 2017, we published the first comprehensive database quantifying marine bird Collision Vulnerability and Displacement Vulnerability to potential OWEI in the region of the U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (POCS; waters within the Exclusive Economic Zone of California, Oregon, and Washington). We have updated this Vulnerability Index with new research and data, additional species present in the POCS, and an evolved understanding of the application and utility of the Index. Of the species assessed, phalaropes and Red-billed Tropicbird have the highest Collision Vulnerability, and gulls, terns, jaegers, skuas, and pelicans have moderately high Collision Vulnerability. Boobies, sea ducks, and pelicans have the greatest Displacement Vulnerability. The overall trends in ranked Vulnerability among marine birds in the POCS were consistent between Version 1 and Version 2 although new data and revised calculations updated the outcomes. Alcids, loons, storm-petrels, Brant, and phalaropes ranked higher for Collision Vulnerability in Version 2 compared to Version 1; sea ducks, cormorants, skua, and jaegers ranked lower for Collision Vulnerability in Version 2 compared to Version 1. Displacement Vulnerability ranks were higher in Version 2 for gulls, pelicans, sea ducks, and alcids and lower for albatrosses, terns, and loons. Vulnerability Index Version 2 is an up-to-date, representative, and transparent assessment of marine bird vulnerability to potential offshore wind energy development. This updated Vulnerability Index can assist resource managers and others in understanding and addressing potential interactions between OWEI and marine bird species that inhabit the POCS.

Associated data for this publication:
Kelsey, E.C., Felis, J.J., Pereksta, D.M., and Adams, J., 2025, Data for the revised marine bird Collision and Displacement Vulnerability Index for Pacific Outer Continental Shelf offshore wind energy development: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P1OUOM9W