Speaker: Dr. Joelle Gehring


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Migrating birds can be attracted to and disoriented by the lights of tall structures such as communication towers, wind turbines, and tall buildings which can lead to collisions. I will discuss the causes and possible methods to resolve this bird conservation issue while maintaining safety for airmen.

Dr. Joelle Gehring is a Senior Conservation Scientist - Zoology Section at Michigan Natural Features Inventory- Michigan State University. She completed her Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology at Purdue University in 2003. Dr. Gehring’s current research focuses on avian collisions with communication towers and wind turbines. Dr. Gehring designed and currently oversees a multi-year, landscape scale study of the variables associated with bird collisions at communication towers. Research results are providing information on methods to reduce bird collisions with tall structures. Dr. Gehring is also the facilitator for Solving the Avian – Tower Interaction Committee (STATIC), a collaboration of tower industry representatives and environmental groups working to reach resolution on the issue of avian collisions with communication towers. Her goals are to use proactive, applied research and adaptive management to reduce or resolve human-wildlife conflicts in the best interest of conservation.