Spatial and species-specific variation in lake-crossing behavior in the Great Lakes region influences collision risk with offshore wind development.

This article focuses on the migratory behavior of songbirds crossing Lake Erie and the implications for collision risk with proposed offshore wind energy developments in the Great Lakes region. Using automated radio telemetry and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, researchers tracked four focal species—Zonotrichia albicollis (White-throated Sparrow), Catharus ustulatus (Swainson's Thrush), Leiothlypis peregrina (Tennessee Warbler), and Setophaga magnolia (Magnolia Warbler)—tagged at inland sites across Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Results showed that 28.7% of tagged birds with known movement crossed Lake Erie, with crossing frequency varying by species and tagging region; birds tagged in central Ohio and species with a more northerly migration route (Z. albicollis and C. ustulatus) exhibited higher crossing rates. These findings highlight spatial and species-specific variation in lake-crossing behavior, suggesting uneven collision risk from offshore wind turbines and underscoring the need to incorporate detailed migratory movement data into wind energy siting and risk mitigation strategies.